Children have lower chances of severe COVID-19: why
According to new research, young children’s antibody response to the virus differs significantly from that of adults and the key is in the production of antibody levels.
The mysteries of COVID-19, especially regarding its impact on different age groups, have been the subject of extensive research since the pandemic began.
Recently, research funded in part by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health, has provided valuable information about why young children tend to experience lower rates of COVID-19. severe compared to adults.
This research was done at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital and was led by Palia Pulendran (Ph.D.) and Mary Allen Staat (MD, MPH). It involved babies and toddlers. Using a systems immunology approach, researchers closely analyzed the immune responses of these young people before, during and after their exposure to SARS-CoV-2.
One of the most notable findings of this study is that young children’s antibody response to the virus differs significantly from that of adults. While adults tend to produce antibodies at levels that increase for a few weeks and then decline, infants and young children maintained high, sustained levels of protective antibodies over a 300-day observation period. This particular immune response could explain why young children often experience mild cases of COVID-19.
Additionally, scientists found that, unlike adults with COVID-19, children’s blood did not have elevated levels of certain inflammatory proteins associated with severe cases of the disease.
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In contrast, the children’s noses showed elevated levels of inflammatory cytokines and a potent antiviral cytokine. These results indicate that the cytokines found in the noses of the children may have cleared the virus from the site where it entered the body and contributed to the disease’s mildness.
New vaccines could be designed thanks to these findings
These findings provide a new way forward in the battle against the coronavirus. Scientists suggest that it may be feasible to design vaccine adjuvants that mimic the immune responses seen in young children, stimulating persistently high levels of antibodies without triggering dangerous inflammation in the blood.
On the other hand, it is important to highlight that the research also has implications in the field of vaccination. Based on the information provided, it is recommended that children ages 6 months to 4 years who received the COVID-19 vaccine before September 2023 receive one or two doses of the updated vaccine, depending on the vaccine and the number of doses. previous. Those who have not been vaccinated should receive two or three doses of the updated COVID-19 vaccine, depending on which vaccine they receive.
In summary, this research sheds light on why young children experience lower rates of severe COVID-19 than adults, highlighting differences in their immune responses. These findings not only increase our understanding of the disease but may also influence future therapeutic and vaccination approaches.
