Rachel writes:
Can an antibody test indicate if a booster is needed? What metric and what level would indicate if a booster would help?
Rachel
Holly writes:
Hey Dr. Griffin:
FIRST!! I LOVE your weekly podcast on TWIV! 20 months ago, I had never heard of TWIV and now I am a total “groupie” (just ask my friends and family). As an NP working in a busy primary care practice in the greater Chicago area, your weekly updates have greatly helped my ability to provide scientific and evidenced based medicine to frightened and concerned patients. Thank You!
Today, I ordered a PCR Covid test on an older man that I suspect has SARS-COV2. I mentioned to him that if he tested positive I would likely recommend a monoclonal antibody (he was all over it — he’s not vaccinated). He then asked me what he could expect his long term immunity to SARS-COV2 would be after receiving a monoclonal antibody (like Regeneron). Would it provide “protection”? If so, for how long?
We certainly know that immediate outcomes are better for patients infected covid-19 after they receive a monoclonal antibody treatment. However, are you able to comment on immunity after monoclonal antibody treatment for Covid?
Again…so thankful for your work and knowledge.
Holly
Marios writes:
Dear Daniel
A friend of mine has gone on a cycling tour, all the cyclists were fully vaccinated but the organisers decided that every cyclist should have a pcr test prior to participation. I felt this was a bit over the top, should an asymptomatic fully vaccinated person ever have to go for a pcr test to do anything like fly etc? I wanted to know what twiv thought about this, maybe a rapid antigen test might be better in this situation ?
Yours truly
Marios
Bill writes:
I have a 40 year old patient who had Covid 19 last year and has long covid. Should she get the vaccine?
Thanks
Bill Hardman, M.D.
Lori writes:
Dear Dr. Griffin,
I wrote in the summer: I’m a Canadian who works in Kazakhstan, was vaccinated with 2 doses of Sputnik in April/May, went home to Toronto, and asked you whether it was ‘bad for the body’ to add another 2 doses of an mRNA vaccine. I got the 2 doses of Pfizer before we returned to Kazakhstan in late August.
We were meant to have a holiday next week, but my PCR test today came up positive! I’m stunned and honestly, a bit freaked out. I teach online, and am careful to wear masks, but I did have a couple of dentist appointments last week – I don’t think dentists here are as careful as they are in Canada.
I did some quick reading after I got the result, and was further dispirited to find that people with breakthrough infections are often older, and/or with underlying conditions. I’m 53 (maybe that’s older?) but healthy. I don’t have any symptoms (yet?), but wonder how true those findings are. Are breakthrough infections usually in people with weakened immune systems? Is Delta messing with these initial stats?
Thank you for keeping us sane during COVID,
Lori
