Overview

• Research led by Tri Phan and published in Cell demonstrates that administering COVID-19 booster doses in the same arm triggers faster antibody production within a week.
• The study reveals that memory B cells remain in lymph nodes near the injection site, enabling enhanced immune activation when boosters are given in the same arm.
• Initial findings from mouse models were validated in a human study involving 30 participants using the BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine.
• Experts reassure that long-term immunity equalizes regardless of the arm used for injections, alleviating concerns for those who alternated arms.
• The findings, coinciding with European Immunization Week, may inform future vaccine strategies, though further studies are needed to assess the effect's duration and broader clinical significance.