Study: Infection plus vaccination create better antibodies

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WHEC) — A new study says infection and vaccination produce antibodies that are more effective against COVID variants than just having one or the other.

Researchers at UCLA looked at patients who were vaccinated, but never infected, and found antibodies that were less effective against mutations. Also— patients infected before May 2020 had antibodies with reduced potency against variants.

The study found people who caught the virus and were later vaccinated had antibodies that worked equally well against the original coronavirus and new variants.

This research follows a recent study out of South Africa that suggested reinfections among people who’ve already battled COVID-19 appear to be more likely with the new omicron variant. That study has yet to be peer-reviewed, it also did not examine the protection offered by vaccination.

Back with UCLA, researchers said is not yet known whether the same benefits of getting the vaccine would be realized for people who have repeated vaccinations but who have not contracted the virus.