Do you still remember the news that the Covid-19 vaccine developed by Oxford University caused recipients to experience a mysterious disease? Then, the Covid-19 vaccine in Brazil that caused mysterious deaths?
This news should not be swallowed up by the public. Because, in fact no one can confirm the cause of this incident and the researchers also emphasize that no one knows for sure that vaccine volunteers were given a vaccine or placebo.
However, this news is certainly an important note for researchers who are creating a Covid-19 vaccine. According to a report from the World Economic Forum, these reports are of significance in phase 3 clinical trials conducted on thousands of people involved in many countries.
“This not only tells us whether the vaccine is safe or not, but also tells whether the vaccine is working for people of all ages or with certain health problems,” said the report.
So, what factors make a vaccine effective in a person’s body?
1. Types of vaccines and how to store them
Many of the Covid-19 vaccine candidates contain part of the SARS-CoV2 virus protein and this is added with the aim of stimulating protective immunity. However, there are many different ways to deliver this protein to the body and some may be more effective than others at stimulating the immune system.
For example, the Covid-19 vaccine developed by Oxford University. The vaccine is known to combine the ‘spike protein’ with other viruses to mimic what SARS-CoV2 does in a person’s body. Meanwhile, the vaccine developed by the University of Queensland contains a spike protein that is packed with other compounds (adjuvants) to stimulate the immune system.
Some people may need further booster injections to ensure longer lasting immunity from the vaccine given.
Some researchers are also known to make vaccines in the form of nasal sprays. This type of vaccine can elicit a more effective immune response against Covid-19 in the upper respiratory tract, including the nostrils, mouth and throat.
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2. Previous infection
Yes, previous infections can trigger the immune system to respond differently to a given vaccine. For example, birus SARS-CoV2 which is a large family of coronaviruses, four of which are responsible for the common cold.
If you’ve been exposed to the common cold virus and have developed immune memory cells for the coronavirus that causes the common cold, it may mean that a stronger or faster response can be felt when you receive the Covid-19 vaccine.
Some people have a poor protective immune response to the Covid-19 vaccine candidate. These are people who may already have immunity to the adenovirus, which is used in some vaccines to transmit the SARS-CoV2 protein spike.
In other words, their bodies increase their immune response to the wrong part of the vaccine (delivery mechanism) and not to the characteristic part of the virus (spike protein).
3. Genetic factors
Our genes play a big role in regulating the immune system. That’s why researchers see a gender factor in responding to Covid-19 immunity.
Now, with a larger clinical trial, it will help us understand whether men and women respond differently to the Covid-19 vaccine.
In addition, people with congenital immune deficiencies may not be able to produce strong protective immunity in response to vaccination.
4. Age
The composition of the human immune system changes every year and this affects the body’s ability to increase the protective immune response. The immune systems of infants and children, for example, are still very developed, unlike those of the elderly. This is what makes the immune response of infants and children different from adults.
Some Covid-19 vaccines may be more effective in children or recommended for them. This is also evident in the flu vaccine.
As we age, changes in the immune system will occur in terms of maintaining long-term protective immunity.
Basically, the human body is less able to make new antibodies in response to infection. That’s what happens in the elderly who tend not to be able to increase the protective immune response in the flu vaccine.
“So, you need data from large trials to verify whether the Covid-19 vaccine works in children and parents, or only in one group,” the report said.
5. Lifestyle factors
Diet, exercise, stress, and smoking habits all influence the immune response to vaccination. So, we can maintain the immune system by living a healthy lifestyle.
Several studies have hypothesized that gut microbes can influence the immune response to vaccination. However, more research is needed to confirm this information, particularly during the Covid-19 vaccination.
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