26 year study for duration of immunity from natural infection and Vax

[Guest guest]

" Because participants' average age was 52, immunity to many of the viral

antigens was induced by natural infection. Whether vaccine-induced immunity

is as long-lived as natural infection–induced immunity remains unknown. "

And also of course antibodies also do mean immunity if from vaccines

Sheri

http://infectious-diseases.jwatch.org/cgi/content/full/2007/1107/3

Larry M. Baddour, MD

November 2007

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Duration of Humoral Immunity

For some antigens, the duration of humoral immunity after infection or

vaccination is measured in decades, rather than in months or years.

How long does humoral immunity last after infection or vaccination? This

question is germane, considering the ever-increasing number of novel

vaccines and the ongoing occurrence of vaccine-preventable diseases in both

developed and developing countries,

To explore this issue, researchers performed a longitudinal analysis of

serum antibody titers specific for eight antigens, using 630 serum samples

collected over an extended period (up to 26 years) from 45 Oregon National

Primate Research Center workers. Samples were retrieved from the center’s

serum bank or taken from scheduled blood draws. (Employees had at least 1

sample drawn annually as part of the center’s program to test humans who

work in close proximity to nonhuman primates.) In addition, participants

completed a detailed medical-history questionnaire. Most had received a

smallpox vaccination during childhood and had experienced a variety of

viral infections; the average age was 52.

The half-lives of antibody responses to six viruses (vaccinia, measles,

mumps, rubella, varicella-zoster, and Epstein-Barr) were ?50 years.

Moreover, many of the antibody titers to viral antigens did not decrease

over time. The estimated half-lives of antibody responses to two other

antigens (tetanus and diphtheria) were <20 years.

Comment: These findings suggest that antigen-specific mechanisms are

largely responsible for the duration of humoral immunity. The longevity of

antibody responses varied among the participants, however, suggesting that

other factors (perhaps including presentation of the antigen) also affect

response to viral antigens. Because participants’ average age was 52,

immunity to many of the viral antigens was induced by natural infection.

Whether vaccine-induced immunity is as long-lived as natural

infection–induced immunity remains unknown.

— Larry M. Baddour, MD

Dr. Baddour is a Professor of Medicine at the Mayo Clinic College of

Medicine, Rochester, Minnesota.

Published in Journal Watch Infectious Diseases November 7, 2007

Citation(s):

Amanna IJ et al. Duration of humoral immunity to common viral and vaccine

antigens. N Engl J Med 2007 Nov 8; 357:1903.

* Original article (Subscription may be required)

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Sheri Nakken, former R.N., MA, Hahnemannian Homeopath

Vaccination Information & Choice Network, Nevada City CA & Wales UK

Vaccines - http://www.wellwithin1.com/vaccine.htm Email classes start in

November