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05 Apr 2021

Setting it Straight: COVID-19 vaccines and influenza vaccines: Part 5 - correlates of immune protection

Why is it that vaccines to prevent the development of symptomatic COVID-19 infection seem, when compared with the long-term influenza experience, to be working so well? We’ve explored that issue in depth from a number of aspects over the past few weeks. But, though we have a long history with flu, much of the in-depth analysis of what COVID-19 vaccines are doing within us seems currently to be either ‘in progress’ or still in the planning phase. We assume that vaccine-induced antibodies – the immunoglobulins – are the primary players in protection, but there is much to be learned re the details of how and where they are doing that job.