Medical experts and scientists have revealed an important new finding about COVID-19 booster vaccines, suggesting they may not only protect against current coronavirus variants but could also help defend against the next potential global pandemic caused by animal-to-human transmission.
According to the researchers, COVID-19 booster shots may provide broad protection against future coronaviruses that could jump from animals to humans, offering a significant advantage in preventing or reducing the impact of emerging infectious diseases.
The findings come from a study conducted by researchers at the University of Cambridge and published in a peer-reviewed scientific journal, raising fresh optimism among scientists about future pandemic preparedness.
Researchers from the Cambridge Institute of Therapeutic Immunology and Infectious Disease analyzed blood samples from older adults in the United Kingdom, with an average age of 69, who had received four doses of COVID-19 vaccines, including the latest bivalent booster.
The team tested antibodies found in these blood samples against multiple coronavirus variants, the virus responsible for the 2003 SARS outbreak, and several coronaviruses found in bats and pangolins that are considered potential future threats to humans.
The study found that booster-induced antibodies provided strong immune protection not only against known coronavirus strains but also against several bat and pangolin viruses that have not yet infected humans.
Many of the viruses examined have the ability to enter human cells, but the vaccine-generated antibodies were able to neutralize them effectively in laboratory testing.
Co-author Rebecca Morris said the findings suggest that if a new coronavirus eventually spreads from animals to humans, existing immunity generated by booster vaccines could already provide a level of protection. She explained that these boosters could slow the spread and reduce the severity of a future outbreak, giving scientists valuable time to develop targeted vaccines.
Another co-author, Gracie West of the University of Cambridge, described the results as surprising and encouraging, saying the vaccines appear capable of acting as a shield against viruses with pandemic potential. She added that this protection could be especially important for older adults and people with weakened immune systems.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), more than 13 billion doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been administered worldwide to date.