Tag: COVID

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Covid News Updates: Another spike in Covid cases in Delhi & Mumbai; Night curfew in national capital from tomorrow

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Wrap Up: All you need to know

  • MHA sets up panel headed by Vivek Joshi, a secretary rank officer, to examine whether to lift AFSPA from Nagaland: Sources
  • 19 more cases of Omicron variant of COVID-19 confirmed in Kerala: state Health Minister
  • Maharashtra reports 31 new Omicron variant cases; state tally reaches 141: Health dept
  • Covaxin has shown good immune response in children during trials, says NTAGI chief
  • Night curfew to be imposed in Delhi from Dec 27 from 11:00 PM to 5:00 AM
  • Karnataka reported 348 fresh Covid cases, 198 recoveries, and 3 deaths in the last 24 hours
  • COVID-19: Mumbai reports 922 new cases, 2 deaths and 326 recoveries today
  • Congress to contest on all assembly seats in Uttar Pradesh in upcoming polls: Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel
  • Delhi records 290 fresh coronavirus cases, one fatality; positivity rate at 0.55 per cent: Authorities
  • Madhya Pradesh reports 8 cases of Omicron variant of COVID-19: Minister

U.S. airlines scrapped nearly 1,000 Christmas Day flights

The rapid spread of the Omicron variant has caused a spike in COVID-19 infections, forcing airlines to cancel flights as pilots and crew go into quarantine

Covaxin has shown good immune response in children during trials, says NTAGI chief

Covaxin has shown that it has a very good immune response in children in trials, Chairman of India’s COVID-19 Working Group of the National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (NTAGI) Dr NK Arora said on Sunday.

UN chief says Archbishop Tutu was “inspiration to generations”

Tamil Nadu: Customs officials at Chennai Airport seized 944 gms of gold worth Rs 42.27 lakhs under the Customs Act from the baggage of three passengers who had arrived from Colombo & Sharjah

MHA sets up panel headed by Vivek Joshi, a secretary rank officer, to examine whether to lift AFSPA from Nagaland: Sources

COVID-19: Apollo Hospitals chairman welcomes vaccine for 15-18 age group

Chairman, Apollo Hospitals Group, Dr Prathap C Reddy on Sunday welcomed the central government’s move to vaccinate children between 15 and 18 years against COVID-19.

Congress reiterates its charge that Centre was hatching “conspiracy” to bring back three farm laws through “back door” after next round of assembly polls and urges people to teach government a lesson by defeating it in elections

There is no special effort required in the implementation of the vaccination. Immunization of these children can be started in a short period w/o specific preparation. It’s a 2-dose schedule given at a 4-week interval; dosage requirement is the same as the adults

– Dr. N K Arora

Children b/w the age of 12-18 years behave very much like adults. Almost 2/3rd of COVID-19 deaths in India are within this age group. So adolescents need to be protected, they’re mobile & therefore their risk of getting infection is high

– COVID19 task force chairman Dr. N K Arora

Fauci vows more testing as Covid’s Omicron hammers US

Top US pandemic advisor Anthony Fauci on Sunday acknowledged a Covid “testing problem” as the Omicron strain overwhelms the nation, and he vowed to make more tests available to Americans next month. “One of the problems is that that’s not going to be totally available to everyone until we get to January, and there are still some issues now of people having trouble getting tested,” Fauci told ABC talk show “This Week.”

Light to moderate intensity rain to occur over & adjoining areas of a few places of Delhi, NCR during the next 2 hours: Indian Meteorological Department

Haryana reports one more Omicron case; tally mounts to 10

Digvijaya Singh made a very irresponsible statement. Now that he doesn’t have any major role in Congress party’s decision making, he’s saying all this to be in the limelight. It’s utter rubbish

– Union Min Pralhad Joshi on Congress leader Digvijaya Singh’s remark on Veer Savarkar

19 more cases of Omicron variant of COVID-19 confirmed in Kerala: state Health Minister

COVID19 | Gujarat reports 177 new cases, 66 recoveries, & no deaths today

  • Active cases: 948
  • Total Omicron cases: 49

An earthquake of magnitude 2.8 occurred at Mandi, Himachal Pradesh at 18: 50 hours today: National Center for Seismology (NCS)

China’s Xi’an reports 485 COVID-19 cases amid surge

People above 60 years of age will need a ‘comorbidities certificate’ to take the COVID-19 precautionary dose

– National Health Authority (NHA) CEO, Dr. R S Sharma

The inquiry ordered by Army is progressing expeditiously & efforts are being made to conclude it at the earliest. Army is fully cooperating with the SIT inquiry ordered by Nagaland govt

– says Indian Army while regretting loss of civilian lives in Mon district on December 4

Farmers haven’t forgotten their humiliation; will vote out BJP in UP assembly polls

– Congress leader and Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel

Maharashtra: 31 new Omicron cases were reported in the state; till date, a total of 141 Omicron cases have been reported in the State

Maharashtra reports 1,648 new cases, 918 recoveries and 17 deaths today

Active cases 9,813

Night curfew to be imposed in Delhi from tomorrow (Dec 27) from 11:00 PM to 5:00 AM

Delhi reports 290 new Covid cases, 1 death in last 24 hours

Karnataka reported 348 fresh Covid cases, 198 recoveries, and 3 deaths in the last 24 hours

Active cases 7,418

PM Modi to inaugurate hydropower projects worth over Rs 11,000 crore in Himachal Pradesh tomorrow

The Election Commission of India will convene a meeting on 27th Dec with senior officials of the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare including Secretary Rajesh Bhushan. The meeting will discuss the prevailing COVID19 situation for upcoming Assembly elections in five states.

COVID-19: Mumbai reports 922 new cases, 2 deaths and 326 recoveries today

Active caseload at 4,295

COVID-19: Tamil Nadu reports 610 new cases, 10 deaths and 679 discharges

Active cases 6,629

Aam Aadmi Party releases fourth list of 15 candidates for 2022 Punjab Assembly Elections

COVID19: Kerala reports 1,824 fresh infections, 16 deaths & 3,364 recoveries

Active caseload stands at 22,691.

48 students & 3 staff of Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya in Takli Dhokeshwar, Ahmednagar found positive for COVID-19 till now: Ahmednagar District Magistrate Rajendra Bhosale

Oman sets COVID-19 double jab entry requirement for visitors

Omani authorities require foreign travellers aged 18 or older to have received at least two COVID-19 vaccine doses to enter the sultanate, the state news agency reported on Sunday.

French virus infections spike over holidays

France has recorded more than 100,000 virus infections in a single day for the first time since the pandemic struck, and COVID-19 hospitalizations have doubled over the past month as the fast-spreading omicron variant complicates the government’s efforts to stave off a new lockdown.

AFSPA panel will submit recommendations within 45 days, based on which final decision will be taken: Nagaland CM Neiphiu Rio

MHA addl secy (NE) to head committee on AFSPA; panel to comprise Nagaland chief secy, DGP: CM Neiphiu Rio

Centre to institute five-member committee to look into withdrawal of AFSPA from Nagaland: CM Neiphiu Rio

PM Modi to visit Kanpur on 28th December and inaugurate Kanpur Metro Rail Project

Indian Army’s Engineer-in-Chief Lieutenant General Harpal Singh was conferred with the ‘Eminent Engineering Personality Award’ by the Institution of Engineers (India) for his contributions in the field of engineering in the Defence Forces and Border Roads Organisation.

China’s local COVID case count driven to 21-month high by Xian outbreak

China reported its highest daily rise in local COVID-19 cases in 21 months as infections more than doubled in the northwestern city of Xian, China’s latest COVID hot spot. The city of 13 million, which entered its fourth day of lockdown, detected 155 domestically transmitted cases with confirmed symptoms for Saturday, up from 75 a day earlier, official data showed on Sunday.

Maharashtra | Due to the State imposed night curfew from 9pm-6am, Sai Baba Temple will be closed for devotees during the night hours

The regular early morning and night ‘aartis’ will also be closed for devotees: Shri Sai Baba Sansthan, Shirdi

First Omicron case detected in Gaza, Palestinians say

Samajwadi Party is dreaming that it will come to power again in Uttar Pradesh and they will stop the ongoing works at Ram Janmabhoomi. Akhilesh Ji, no one can stop the construction of Ram Temple in Ayodhya

– Union Home Minister Amit Shah at Orai, Jalaun

Jammu & Kashmir | Terrorists hurl grenade towards police post near Post Office, Pulwama

Today, I want to say that we’re going win more than 300 seats in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly election 2022. Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Samaj Party are casteist parties. While, Modi Ji and Yogi Ji stand for ‘Sabka saath, Sabka vikas’

– Union Home Minister Amit Shah at Orai, Jalaun

Air Force personnel and family members pay tribute to Wing Commander Harshit Sinha, in Lucknow, who lost his life in the MiG-21 fighter aircraft crash on December 24

A total of 51 Omicron patients were admitted here out of which 40 have been successfully discharged. The majority of patients were asymptomatic & recovered without any medications. None of the patients was given oxygen support, steroid or Remdesivir

– Dr Suresh Kumar MD LNJP, Delhi

Few miscreants allegedly vandalised a statue at Holy Redeemer Church in Ambala last night, say police.

We’re examining CCTV footage to identify the culprits. The miscreants will be identified and rounded up soon. A thorough investigation will be conducted: ASP Ambala Pooja Dabla

Cong’s Adhir Ranjan writes to PM Modi regarding two Covid Hospitals in West Bengal

ongress MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury has written a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi regarding Covid Hospital in West Bengal’s Murshidabad and Kalyani. “I am very thankful to you for sanctioning two covid hospitals, one for Murshidabad and another for Kalyani on my request through the PM-Cares Fund,” the release read.

Amit Shah held meeting to discuss Nagaland on December 23

Four major Indian carriers’ dues to AAI more than doubled between Jan 2020 and Oct 2021

Dues of four major domestic airlines — IndiGo, SpiceJet, Go First and AirAsia India — to the Airports Authority of India (AAI) more than doubled between January 2020 and October 2021, according to internal AAI documents.

Salman Khan bitten by non-venomous snake at his Panvel farmhouse, discharged after treatment

Madhya Pradesh reports 8 cases of Omicron variant of COVID-19: Minister

Bihar: Five died, six injured in boiler blast in a noodle factory in Muzaffarpur

Further investigation is underway, as per the District Magistrate Pranav Kumar

COVID-19 cases in Maharashtra school rise to 51

The number of coronavirus cases at the Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya in Maharashtra’s Ahmednagar district has gone up to 51, including 48 students, a health official said on Sunday.

Himachal Pradesh reports first case of Omicron

The person had returned from Canada on December 18. The patient’s latest RTPCR is negative and her three close contacts have also tested negative, as per the State Health Department.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi set to launch poll campaign in Punjab from 3rd January for upcoming state Assembly polls

PTI reported quoting sources

Madhya Pradesh: Cabinet withdraws recently issued ordinance for conducting panchayat elections

The proposal has been sent to Governor

Anti-apartheid icon Archbishop Desmond Tutu has passed away: South African President Cyril Ramaphosa

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Pfizer Covid pill: FDA authorizes first oral antiviral Paxlovid to treat coronavirus infection

This is the 1st antiviral Covid-19 tablet approved for sick persons to just take at property, ahead of they get sick sufficient to be hospitalized.

High-hazard persons age 12 and more mature who weigh at minimum 88 lbs . and have a positive SARS-CoV-2 test are suitable for this treatment and will want to have it approved by a doctor.

The pill “should really be initiated as soon as doable right after analysis of Covid-19 and within just five times of symptom onset,” in accordance to an Food and drug administration statement.

Paxlovid combines a new antiviral drug named nirmatrelvir and an older just one known as ritonavir and is administered as three tablets specified 2 times a working day for five days.

Last week, Pfizer launched updated final results that confirmed the cure slice the chance of hospitalization or dying by 89{cfdf3f5372635aeb15fd3e2aecc7cb5d7150695e02bd72e0a44f1581164ad809} if provided to high-chance adults in a couple days of their very first signs. If presented within just the initial five days of signs, the efficacy was comparable: 88{cfdf3f5372635aeb15fd3e2aecc7cb5d7150695e02bd72e0a44f1581164ad809}.

Finding a Covid-19 test is a struggle right now in the US as Omicron and holiday plans collide

“Modern authorization of PAXLOVID represents an additional incredible case in point of how science will enable us finally defeat this pandemic, which, even two a long time in, carries on to disrupt and devastate life throughout the planet. This breakthrough treatment, which has been demonstrated to considerably lessen hospitalizations and fatalities and can be taken at home, will alter the way we treat COVID-19, and hopefully support lessen some of the important pressures facing our health care and hospital techniques,” Pfizer Chairman and CEO Albert Bourla explained in a statement. “Pfizer stands ready to start out shipping and delivery in the U.S. instantly to assistance get PAXLOVID into the arms of correct sufferers as immediately as doable.”

In November, the Biden administration announced that it would order 10 million treatment method programs for $5.295 billion. President Biden stated he was inspired by the “promising info” from Pfizer and reported the drug would “mark a considerable move forward in our route out of the pandemic.”

He called Paxlovid a “potentially impressive instrument in our combat in opposition to the virus, which includes the Omicron variant,” but pressured that acquiring vaccinated and getting a booster shot remained “the most significant resources we have to conserve lives.”

The Fda emphasized in a statement that Paxlovid is not for pre- or post-exposure avoidance of Covid-19 and “is not a substitute for vaccination in men and women for whom COVID-19 vaccination and a booster dose are proposed.”

Separately, Merck has asked for crisis use authorization for its antiviral capsule, molnupiravir. It was narrowly advisable by FDA’s advisers in a 13-10 vote at the end of November following details showed it reduce the risk of hospitalization or demise by 30{cfdf3f5372635aeb15fd3e2aecc7cb5d7150695e02bd72e0a44f1581164ad809} amid high-hazard grownups. This was lessen than an previously investigation suggesting that selection could be about 50{cfdf3f5372635aeb15fd3e2aecc7cb5d7150695e02bd72e0a44f1581164ad809}. The Food and drug administration has not introduced irrespective of whether it will authorize the treatment.

Remdesivir, offered beneath the manufacturer name Veklury, is the only antiviral accredited by Fda for treatment of Covid-19. It really is specified intravenously, not as a pill that can be taken at house.

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Biden speech Tuesday to unveil COVID steps, ‘warning’ for unvaccinated

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Fauci warns omicron variant ‘raging through the world’: COVID updates

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UK Covid: London bars and restaurants shut down as Omicron rips through the nation

Dining establishments and other venues are in its place determining they have no option but to near early for Xmas thanks to a flood of canceled reservations and worries about the overall health of staffers.

Ferhat Dirik, the co-operator of east London’s Mangal 2 restaurant, stated he resolved to shut a 7 days previously than prepared because of misplaced bookings and the “common uncertainty in the air.”

“It is really impacting staff morale, and it is impacting us projecting any sensible profits that could justify this,” Dirik explained to CNN Organization.

The closures are a new menace to the economy and a headache for federal government, approximately two years into the pandemic. They indicate that when instances are significant ample, men and women are nevertheless eager to steer clear of heading out, in spite of common pandemic exhaustion. When the federal government has stopped brief of restricting social activity, England’s Chief Healthcare Officer Chris Whitty has recommended men and women not to combine with others unless absolutely needed.

But contrary to during past Covid waves, state assist for enterprises has dwindled, leaving the hospitality field in the lurch around a essential period of time. The foyer group UKHospitality estimates that its users make a quarter of their annual income in excess of Christmas.

“So substantially rested on this December period of time for firms already staggering under a burden of personal debt incurred from the pandemic and going through growing fees across the board,” Kate Nicholls, the head of UKHospitality, reported in a assertion. “If operators are not able to trade profitably in excess of the next thirty day period, quite a few will only not endure.”

‘Lockdown by stealth’

British isles finance minister Rishi Sunak on Thursday slice quick a excursion to the United States since of the deteriorating condition back again residence.

“I realize the fears of organizations at the second specified almost everything that’s heading on. That is why I’ve been in contact with hospitality sector leaders these days, my crew internet hosting roundtables and talking to them,” he instructed CNN’s Richard Quest. But Sunak offered no trace of guidance for the hospitality field past existing actions these as reduced costs of profits and local organization taxes.

“I believe it is really vital to identify, as the primary minister mentioned before today, that the predicament is extremely unique to what we have carried out and encountered just before. The federal government is not telling men and women to cancel issues. It really is not closing down corporations,” Sunak additional.

The timing is building matters worse for everyone. Men and women who experienced prepared dinners or drinks out are now bailing due to the fact they don’t want to hazard paying Christmas sick or in isolation, as a substitute of with their households.

According to reservation details from OpenTable, Uk bookings plunged 24{cfdf3f5372635aeb15fd3e2aecc7cb5d7150695e02bd72e0a44f1581164ad809} on Tuesday and 22{cfdf3f5372635aeb15fd3e2aecc7cb5d7150695e02bd72e0a44f1581164ad809} on Wednesday as opposed to 2019. Globally, bookings fell 18{cfdf3f5372635aeb15fd3e2aecc7cb5d7150695e02bd72e0a44f1581164ad809} and 15{cfdf3f5372635aeb15fd3e2aecc7cb5d7150695e02bd72e0a44f1581164ad809}, respectively.

Employees who perform in hospitality are likewise involved about mounting concentrations of bacterial infections amongst colleagues.

“The key reason was the group. We did not want anybody else to get ill,” mentioned Bash Redford, the co-owner of south London’s Forza Wine.

He mentioned that on Sunday evening, two men and women had coronavirus on his workforce of 31. By Wednesday early morning, 8 experienced contracted it — and Redford made a decision it was needed to limit threats for the relaxation of the team. Forza Wine introduced it would near from Wednesday by Xmas.

Britain's nightmare economy of the 1970s may be making a comeback

Restaurants usually are not the only types struggling with a crunch. In a assertion Thursday, the Modern society of London Theatre warned of a “demanding predicament” across the region.

“Whilst ticket income remain strong for the Christmas time period, present cancellations thanks to cast and crew health issues — compounded by Covid-associated audience refund and exchange requests — is making an more and more bleak outlook for venues more than the up coming few important months,” the marketplace group said.

The United Kingdom claimed an all-time large of 88,376 coronavirus instances on Thursday, as public well being officials alert that cases of the Delta variant are “remaining rather secure in quantity” even though Omicron “is expanding very swiftly.” In London, it is previously the dominant pressure.

So significantly, Primary Minister Boris Johnson has avoided rolling out more critical limitations, in its place encouraging people to operate from household when possible, mandating masks and requiring evidence of vaccination or a negative Covid-19 take a look at to enter golf equipment and significant sporting functions.

Johnson, whose bash has just experienced a shock midterm election defeat, explained Thursday that instead than “locking things down” the Uk govt is inquiring individuals to “be cautious” and “feel about their functions in the run up to Xmas.”
But he faces criticism from the hospitality market that this tactic quantities to imposing a “lockdown by stealth” — this time without having any financial assist.

“It’s an additional large hit on the field by sending these blended alerts — by telling men and women not to dine out but also presenting no assurances for enterprises,” Mangal 2’s Dirik reported.

An additional financial strike

Paul Donovan, main economist at UBS Worldwide Prosperity Management, claimed this “voluntary collapse in leisure and services” forward of Christmas could have a big result on the financial restoration, which was already stalling as inflation surges. The United Kingdom’s gross domestic products grew by just .1{cfdf3f5372635aeb15fd3e2aecc7cb5d7150695e02bd72e0a44f1581164ad809} in October, with output nonetheless .5{cfdf3f5372635aeb15fd3e2aecc7cb5d7150695e02bd72e0a44f1581164ad809} beneath its pre-pandemic level.

“There is no federal government assistance this time, so there is an affect,” Donovan reported.

A person large issue in the close to phrase is regardless of whether restaurants that make a decision to shut earlier than prepared will continue to pay back employees. If not, staff will “instantly get an earnings fall,” Donovan stated.

Mangal 2 is continue to “hunting at the selections” as it weighs “what’s morally suitable as nicely as fiscally viable.” Redford explained Forza Wine’s staff will be paid out this month, and there’s sufficient hard cash on hand to guarantee they are going to also be compensated in January and February. After that, although, the outlook receives murky.

Ultimately, the magnitude of the economic hit will count in substantial portion on how lengthy people concentrate their spending at residence in its place of on actions this kind of as dining out, Donovan mentioned. That will rely both of those on the measures the governing administration normally takes and the training course of the virus.

The excellent news, he claimed, is that businesses have gone via this prior to, and have procedures for selling food stuff to-go and delivering food kits. If they need to go this route all over again, eating places and pubs will have reduce set-up costs.

But for now — with coronavirus scenarios skyrocketing, and a different holiday break time spoiled by the pandemic — the mood is grim.

“People today are definitely terrified,” explained Redford, who had been arranging to open up two new places in 2022. “Like truly, actually frightened.”

— Walé Azeez contributed reporting.

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Long COVID: Is autoimmunity to blame?

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A new study looks at autoimmunity and its theoretical role in long COVID. VICTOR TORRES/Stocksy
  • One step in our body’s immune response to the SARS-CoV-2 virus may potentially inhibit our ability to fight SARS-CoV-2 infection.
  • Antibodies that the body produces after the initial immune response may also bind the same target cells as the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
  • This might perhaps explain why individuals experience long COVID symptoms months after infection.
  • Vaccine-produced neutralizing antibodies may also elicit these second-line antibodies, resulting in the rare, serious side effects of COVID-19 vaccines.

A group of researchers recently hypothesized that complex immune responses to the SARS-CoV-2 virus might explain the long-term effects of COVID-19.

They also suggest these immunologic mechanisms may contribute to the rare, serious side effects of the COVID-19 vaccine.

In a recent New England Journal of Medicine article, co-authors Dr. William J. Murphy and Dr. Dan L. Longo explain how autoimmunity may be the mechanism causing these two distinct complications of the worldwide SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.

When our bodies are exposed to a virus — or any infection — it recognizes proteins and other molecules on the invading virus as “not us.” Scientists refer to this as an antigen.

We then ramp up our immune systems to attack that antigen. Therefore, we try to neutralize infectious invaders, such as the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

Once we use our antibodies to attack the invading viral protein, parts of these neutralizing antibody-antigen complexes can also be viewed as “not us” by our bodies. We can also form secondary antibodies, called anti-idiotype antibodies.

What is the purpose of anti-idiotype antibodies? After the initial benefits of first-line immunity, our body has natural processes to try to flatten our response to challenges. These processes are known as downregulation.

Anti-idiotype antibody production is one of our body’s methods of achieving downregulation. However, the presence of anti-idiotype antibodies can have unexpected negative effects.

Firstly, they can neutralize our infection-fighting first-responder antibodies, so they interfere with our body’s ability to fight the infection if it persists.

Secondly, they can mimic the original invading organism and bind to our cells in the same way. This instigates the same symptoms as the infection or causes an immune-cell attack on our healthy cells.

Drs. Murphy and Longo report that this mimicking behavior by anti-idiotype antibodies has been demonstrated already in models, such as viral diarrhea in bovine animals.

For Medical News Today, Dr. Murphy elaborated:

“This concept of anti-idiotype antibodies mediating effects and limiting efficacy could have a profound impact in understanding how to increase effectiveness and duration of protective antibody responses,” he explained. It might also help us “determine if patients are at risk, based on their anti-idiotype responses or allow for therapeutic interventions to be developed.”

The SARS-CoV-2 spike protein on the surface of the virus binds to angiotensin converting enzyme 2 receptors (ACE2) on our cells.

ACE2 receptors are present on many cells throughout the body, including within the lung, heart, kidneys, nerves, and brain. So, any protein, including a virus protein, binding these receptors can profoundly affect our health.

Once bound to the cell, the spike protein allows the virus to enter it. But, the spike proteins’ negative effects do not stop at simply finding a gateway.

By binding the ACE2 receptors, the spike protein can suppress healthy cell function and stimulate the release of inflammatory proteins called cytokines.

Regardless of whether we produce first-line antibodies from the vaccine or a SARS-CoV-2 infection, anti-idiotype antibodies have the potential to produce the same symptoms and side effects as infection with the SARS-CoV-2 infection. They achieve this by binding to the ACE2 receptor.

Dr. Murphy clarified for MNT:

“The vast majority of research on both SARS-CoV-2 infection responses and vaccines solely centers on the protective antibody and T cell responses. There needs to be much more investment in basic research on the immunoregulatory pathways that both can limit responses and duration, but also on their ability to mediate off-target effects.”

“Given the strong dependency on the population for vaccines and the need for boosting, along with the emergence of viral variants, it is imperative that more research be directed to understanding the mechanisms involved using preclinical models, which simply has not been adequately done.”

Dr. Murphy elaborated further: “Despite being put forth by Nobel Laureate Niels Jerne in 1974 as a means for antibody regulation, research in this area of anti-idiotype antibodies has tapered considerably and is not usually in the conversation of antibody responses. This article brings the concept back to the forefront as a possible explanation for the myriad of effects observed with both SARS-CoV-2 infection and vaccine responses.”

Researchers Dr. Claudia Nold-Petry and Prof. Marcel Nold from Monash University in Australia also spoke with MNT. They discussed the potential role of anti-idiotype antibodies in complications associated with both COVID-19 vaccines and the disease:

“Confirmation of the presented hypotheses by basic research (as per the suggestions in the article) would represent a welcome advance in the understanding of the adverse events of vaccines and COVID-19 itself — including of SARS-CoV-2 variants, some of which may induce more and more problematic anti-idiotype antibodies than others!”

Regarding the medical implications of this research, Dr. Nold-Petry and Prof. Nold told MNT:

“Vaccines and antibody-based therapies could be screened for induction of anti-idiotype antibodies in preclinical tests, and modifications could be made to minimize such indications, as required.”

“Patients could be screened for anti-idiotype antibodies following vaccination or administration of antibody-based therapies, and an alternative vaccine could be selected if they were detected.”

Dr. Murphy added that these findings could provide many benefits, particularly “in understanding how to increase effectiveness and duration of protective antibody responses as well as potentially allowing for means to determine if patients are at risk based on their anti-idiotype response or allow for therapeutic interventions to be developed.”

“This article presents a hypothesis on a mechanism that could be at play,” he noted. “The research now needs to be done to ascertain if indeed this is occurring. A recent publication demonstrating the existence of anti-ACE2 anti-idiotypic antibodies in SARS-CoV-2 patients would appear to support this can indeed be a major factor.”