Tests undertaken by the Office of National Statistics (ONS) indicate promising results in our fight against Covid. Half of the UK has now got antibodies as a result of either having a vaccination or the infection.
Over 30 million people have now received at least one dose of the vaccine. This is why it is likely that the majority of antibodies have come as a result of vaccination.
An Antibody is a protein contained in blood which can recognise specific infections in the body and fight against them.
Levels of antibodies are higher among those in the oldest age groups, who are most at risk. Although a slight decline in detectable antibodies has been seen in that group since January. This coincides with when there was a peak in infections.
The ONS are under the impression that this could be people who were vaccinated earliest having received a first dose but not their second. It must be stressed that this is in no way evidence to suggest that these people are less immune.
If a person has had an infection, antibodies are produced in their body. These aid the body by making it ready to fight off the infection if it is ever encountered again. Receiving a vaccination is a safe way to develop these antibodies without the risk of being ill or suffering.
Yes or No Result
Tests carried out in the study by the ONS provide a yes/no result based on if the number of antibodies in the blood go beyond a set threshold. However, it is possible for people to be protected by a lower level of antibodies.
There are also other elements to the immune system which are not being measured or taken into account here, such as T-cells. Some evidence exists to suggest that protective T-cells may be detectable for longer than antibodies.
It is possible that part of the reason for the decline seen is from infections in the first wave. This is because antibodies derived from infection are known to drop off over time.
To conduct the study, blood was taken from a representative sample of people around the UK. This was used to estimate the proportion of people throughout the whole population who have antibodies.
It was estimated that by 14 March, the number of people in England with antibodies was 55%, in Wales it was 51%, in Northern Ireland there were 49%, and 43% in Scotland.
Among the people aged over 65, who are most likely to have received vaccinations, about 90% had antibodies.
The figures show an increase in the number of people in the population having some kind of protection against Covid. This is a rise from when levels were measured at the start of March, where roughly a third of people tested positive.
Related News
Other recent reports show, the number of deaths in the UK has stayed below expectations for this time of year. It dipped under average last week.
In the week ending 19 March there were 11,666 registered deaths. This is 8% below the five-year average for this week.
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