Systemic Side Effects of COVID-19 Vaccine Linked to Higher nAB Response

On June 11, 2024, a study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine revealed that short-term systemic side effects from the SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccine are linked to stronger, long-lasting neutralizing antibody (nAB) responses. The research, led by Dr. Ethan G. Dutcher from the University of California, San Francisco, evaluated the relationship between post-vaccination side effects and subsequent nAB responses in a cohort from the San Francisco Bay Area.

The study included 363 adults who had neither been vaccinated against nor exposed to SARS-CoV-2. These participants received two doses of either the BNT162b2 or mRNA-1273 vaccines and were monitored for symptom-related data. The research observed a connection between specific side effects—such as chills, tiredness, feeling unwell, and headaches—with a 1.4- to 1.6-fold increase in nAB levels at one and six months post-vaccination.

Moreover, increases in skin temperature and heart rate induced by vaccination were positively correlated with nAB responses across both follow-up periods. Specifically, each one-degree Celsius rise in skin temperature after the second vaccine dose was associated with a 1.8- to 3.1-fold higher nAB level one and six months later.

The study's findings suggest that experiencing certain short-term side effects might be indicative of a stronger and more enduring immune response. This insight could potentially alleviate concerns over vaccine side effects, which have contributed to low vaccine uptake rates.

Researchers believe these results may encourage more people to get vaccinated by providing reassurance that short-term discomfort could lead to more robust long-term immunity.