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Oxford University Press - PMC COVID-19 Collection logoLink to Oxford University Press - PMC COVID-19 Collection
. 2020 Aug 12:jiaa518. doi: 10.1093/infdis/jiaa518

COVID 19 Vaccines: Should we fear ADE?

Scott B Halstead 1,, Leah Katzelnick 2,3
PMCID: PMC7454712  PMID: 32785649

Abstract

Might COVID 19 vaccines sensitize humans to antibody dependent enhanced (ADE) breakthrough infections? This outcome is unlikely because coronavirus diseases in humans lack the clinical, epidemiological, biological or pathological attributes of ADE disease exemplified by the dengue viruses (DENV). In contrast to DENV, SARS and MERS CoVs predominantly infect respiratory epithelium, not macrophages. Severe disease centers on older persons with pre-existing conditions and not young infants or individuals with previous coronavirus infections. Live virus challenge of animals given SARS or MERS vaccines has resulted in vaccine hypersensitivity reactions (VAH), similar to those in humans given inactivated measles or respiratory syncytial virus vaccines. Safe and effective COVID 19 vaccines must avoid VAH.

Keywords: dengue, dengue hemorrhagic fever, antibody dependent enhancement (ADE), vaccine adverse events, coronavirus, SARS CoV-1, SARS CoV-2, immunopathology, vaccine, hypersensitivity, antibody, T cells


Articles from The Journal of Infectious Diseases are provided here courtesy of Oxford University Press

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