“Yes,” says professor of immunology Marjolein van Egmond. “Then the infection does indeed act as a booster.”
She explains that vaccines and infections work in much the same way: in both cases you train your immune system. “The biggest difference is that you don’t get sick from a vaccination, and you do run that risk if you are infected.”
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In short, because of a third vaccination or infection after vaccination, your body produces many antibodies and immune cells against the virus in one go: a boost.
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Who can get a third corona jab in the Netherlands?
In September, the Health Council recommended a third shot for people with an immune disorder who have produced little or no antibodies after the first vaccinations. A third dose can increase their immune response. These include transplant patients and kidney patients. View the full list here.
The members of the Health Council will meet this week to consider a third corona vaccination for healthy people.
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“Those antibodies are the first barrier between you and the pathogen. They prevent you from being infected,” says Professor Van Egmond.
The amount of antibodies in your body decreases over time. “If you kept making new antibodies for every virus you’ve ever come in contact with, your blood becomes one block of concrete. So it’s very normal for the antibodies to slowly disappear.”
Memory Response
Fortunately, your body also creates a memory response. If your body then comes into contact with the virus particles, it starts working hard, explains Van Egmond. “You can still get some mild symptoms, but when your immune system is up and running, you have a boost of antibodies and immune cells in your body again. Just like when you get a corona shot.”
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People who do not allow themselves to be vaccinated and who do become infected will sooner or later be better protected by the coronavirus in this way. “But those people are more at risk of serious illness.”
On average, your body is attacked by viruses and bacteria seven times a day. You don’t notice it and that’s because of your immune system. We explain how your immune system works in the video below:
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Do you need a third corona vaccine after two vaccinations and an infection? It is not yet possible to say that, says Van Egmond. “We simply don’t know yet how long vaccines protect and to what extent.” But at the moment it is not yet necessary for healthy people. “For most, they are still well protected against serious disease symptoms.”
Immune system strengthened
But a booster shot can’t hurt, she says. “Because then the immune system is strengthened again. But I think we first have to provide more immunity worldwide.”
Western countries are extremely protecting themselves against the corona virus at the expense of poorer countries, says Van Egmond. “You throw people a third life jacket when they’re already wearing two and the rest of the world drowns.” The fact that there is still insufficient vaccination in poorer countries entails the risk of new mutations, the professor explains. “And then it could happen that the vaccinations do not work sufficiently against that and of course we do not want that.”
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