A new study has revealed that your gender and age determine the strength of antibody levels after receiving two doses of the coronavirus vaccine. The Texas Biomedical Research Institute, in collaboration with the University of Verona in Italy, found that antibody levels are higher in women and children compared to men and individuals over the age of 65. The study also showed that those under 65 years old have more than double the antibody levels of those over 65.
However, the study, which is considered the largest in the world on the prevalence of antibodies over time, also indicated a 50 percent decrease in antibody levels within six months for everyone—regardless of age or gender. Dr. Brandon Michael Hunter, who co-led the study, stated, “While we see how vaccines have helped keep people out of the hospital and prevent life-threatening illnesses, antibody levels decline rapidly in all individuals regardless of age or sex.”
He added, “Our study provides additional evidence that booster shots for all adults will be important to maintain antibody levels so we can continue to generate an effective immune response against coronavirus infection and prevent deaths caused by it.”
The team believes that the differences seen between genders are due to hormones in the body, particularly testosterone in men. According to the press release, testosterone “naturally suppresses the immune system, while estrogen, which is higher in women, is known to enhance immune responses.”
Additionally, some genes encoding certain immune proteins are located on the X chromosome, and since women have two of these chromosomes, this may help increase immune activity.
Researchers emphasized that the decline in antibody levels does not mean vaccines are ineffective, and as antibody levels continue to decrease over time, booster doses can help maintain adequate levels of these antibodies, according to the British newspaper Daily Mail.
