NPR reported that new studies have found cases of “Super Immunity” against COVID-19 infection in some individuals. Some researchers refer to the phenomenon as “Bulletproof.” Immunologist Shane Crotty prefers “hybrid immunity.”
Over the past several months, a series of studies has found that some people mount an extraordinarily powerful immune response against COVID-19. Their bodies produce very high levels of antibodies, but they also make antibodies with great flexibility, likely capable of fighting off the coronavirus variants circulating in the world but also likely effective against variants that may emerge in the future.
In a study published online last month, Paul Bieniasz and his colleagues found antibodies in these individuals that can strongly neutralize the six variants of concern tested, including delta and beta, as well as several other viruses related to SARS-CoV-2, including one in bats, two in pangolins and the one that caused the first pandemic, SARS-CoV-1.
So who are these super immune individuals? Were they bit by a spider or irradiated with a Vita-Ray? No, these super immune individuals are people who have had a “hybrid” exposure to the virus. Specifically, they were infected with the coronavirus in 2020 and then immunized with mRNA vaccines in 2021. These findings show how powerful the mRNA vaccines can be in people with prior exposure to SARS-CoV-2. Researchers don’t know if everyone who has had COVID-19 and then an mRNA vaccine will have such a remarkable immune response. The study only reported data on 14 patients.
I am wondering if this super immune response will also result from people who get fully vaccinated and then have a breakthrough infection of COVID-19. Since we are all likely to meet this virus at some point, it would be reassuring to think we would become super immune after suffering through a minor infection. This research I believe has not been done yet.