While COVID-19 is a highly contagious disease, there’s a group of people who have never caught the virus despite leading normal lives.
After two years of a pandemic, the majority of people have had first-hand experience with COVID-19. Still, there’s a group of people who, despite living their normal lives over the past couple of months and exposing themselves just like everyone else, have not gotten infected. Researchers are trying to understand why.
One study is being conducted by Australian researchers who are examining household COVID-19 cases in order to understand how the disease spreads, and how some people remain immune to it even if they should have caught it due to exposure.
“We can gain a lot of knowledge from the people who are resistant genetically and immunologically,” Dr. Vanessa Bryant told ABC Australia. “Obviously, that’s going to have implications for understanding the critical components that are necessary for COVID-19 protection. It’s also going to really pinpoint the essential therapeutic targets for [the treatment of] other people.”
She explains that everyone’s immune system is different, with the study betting that there’s a genetic component that’s influential in who gets the disease or not. While those who are vaccinated have extra protection, once this fades with the passage of time, immunity is dependent on the person’s genes. “It’s really highly variable,” she says.
When accounting for variables like exposure and previous infection, researchers think a genetic component plays a part, making some naturally more resistant to COVID-19 than others. A recent study supports these claims; out of 18 subjects that were exposed to COVID-19, all of whom had no vaccines nor previous infections, half of them never caught the virus.
No matter how careful people are, it appears some have more protection naturally, despite masks, social distancing, and more.
Have you ever completed a bong session late at night only to wake up drenched in sweat and fear, experiencing quite the opposite of what you should be feeling? The widespread “conspiracy theory” about this phenomenon is that their bong water inactivated the THC in the plant materials. Many stoners even believe their bongs are working against them at those crucial moments.
Here, you’ll get a comprehensive review of why bong water is excellent. This silent fear about the liquid rendering the THC component is baseless and without scientific proof.
Photo by Grav via Unsplash
What Is Bong Water?
Bong water refers to the weird-looking liquid found in the bottom chamber of a bong. The strong-smelling liquid has been described as “disgusting” several times.
Bong water is used to cool and filter the plant materials as they get heated up. The water helps remove the smoke. This liquid can be reused, but when it gets filthy, it needs to be replaced. This feature helps reduce the choking effects of the smoke, making the session less tiresome for stoners. It reduces the temperature of the inhaled smoke and filters out the tar. Without the bing water, the throats of several stoners would be burned.
The problem now is the belief that water reduces the potency of the hits by filtering out THC. Accurate information about what happens when gaseous THC interacts with bong water has been convoluted.
How Does Bong Water Function?
Bong water serves several essential purposes. For one, it makes the entire experience cleaner and smoother. The filtration process alone has two phases.
First, when the heated plant materials go through the cold water, the smoke’s temperature is considerably reduced. The smoke becomes easier to inhale, and it does not burn the throat. Secondly, the water absorbs the soluble compounds while trapping the insoluble ones simultaneously. This way, the regular leftovers that often remain in the throat or lungs are reduced or totally cleared off before the smoke is inhaled. That is, fewer impurities make their way into your healthy body.
Tar, ash, and plant matter do not leave the bongs; instead, they remain in the water. Bong water devices are a reasonable investment. They prevent irritations in the throat and lungs. Hence, you’re more or less doing yourself a favor by removing these large and very hot particles from the smoke. Some studies suggest that boiling water effectively removes some toxins from cigarette smoke. While it is not the healthiest method of consuming cannabis materials, it is better than most.
What Becomes Of The THC?
Bong water is an effective water filtration system that reduces the adverse effects of smoking cannabis material. But there are times when a small amount of THC, specifically the insoluble ones, gets trapped in the water. Still, it remains better than other combustion methods for smoking. When joints are rolled and lit, more THC and cannabinoids are burned off than the small amount trapped in bong water.
However, you can determine how much THC is lost from each bong session. To do this, you need to factor in a few variables, like the THC percentage, the amount of weed poured into the bong, the total amount of water used in the bottom chamber, and the temperature and humidity applied within the bong.
A regular bong hit can contain up to 300mg of THC. For instance, if your weed contains up to 30% THC and you inhale about 1 gram per hit, you’ve taken in 300mg of THC.
Amount Of THC In Water Bongs
Experiments on THC have shown that its highest water solubility rate is 2.78 mg per liter. This occurs at a temperature between 22-24°C. For example, if your bong’s water chamber could contain up to 600ml of water, it would trap nothing less than 1.6mg of THC. At this rate, you’d be taking in over300mg of THC.
Note that at 23°C, the THC is still present as a solid within the plant materials. Since bongs have high temperatures of about 100 °C, the THC changes to a gaseous state, which is less soluble than the solid crystalline form.
Photo by Pavel Danilyuk via Pexels
According to Henry’s law, the solubility of a gas decreases as its temperature increases. In addition to this, the atmospheric pressure within a bong is about 80%. These scientific values show that less THC gets trapped in bong water due to the high temperatures and atmospheric pressure. There is a more comprehensive scientific explanation for this.
From the above calculations and explanation, less than 1% of THC is lost to the bong’s water. Regardless of the amount of water in the chamber, you’ll get as much THC from your plants as possible without the burning smoke hitting your throats.
Numerous anecdotal reports suggest the use of bongs without water. These claims are false and misleading. Doing so could lead to throat injuries and sore throats that could remain for up to a week. Using a bong without any form of liquid is a bad idea that leads to regrets.
Wine is one of the most preferred alternatives because it adds flavor to the smoke. You can use your favorite wine brands for this. However, you have to stick to one with relatively low alcohol content.
Fruit juice is also another good choice to replace water. Regular Bing users claim that cranberry juice is an exciting option. Fruit juice is less harmful than alcoholic wine. You can add ice to your wine, water, or juice to improve the cooling effect in the bong water chamber.
Bottom Line
Bong water is a very useful feature in bong devices. It protects the tissues and nerves in the consumer’s throat and makes the experience more fulfilling. Anecdotal reports which claim that bong water renders THC impotent are unfounded. If you have an excellent bong, premium weed product, clean water, or suitable alternatives, and the right amount of heat is applied, the highest amount of THC that can be lost or trapped in the bong water cannot exceed 5%.
Weedmaps WM Technology Inc and hip hop star Killer Mike announced the launch of their new media project, Tumbleweeds. The show will follow Killer Mike, real name Michael Render, exploring what show creators call “a new era of cannabis in America.”
Render will tour four U.S. cities, including the California Bay Area, New York City, Chicago and Las Vegas where he’ll will stop and chat with local personalities and comedy legends linked to the pot community. Along the way, he’ll be joined by notable entertainers:
Photo by Emma McIntyre/Staff/Getty Images
San Francisco:
Comedian, Ngaio Bealum
Comedian, Jeff Horste
Comedian, Kabir Singh
Las Vegas:
Comedian, Mat Edgar
Comedian, DJ Sandhu
Comedian, Jozalyn Sharp
Comedian, Mu Johnson
New York City:
Comedian, Napoleon Emill
Comedian, Jocelyn Chia
Comedian, Brendan Sagalow
Chicago:
Comedian, Chris Higgins
Comedian, Jarrell Barnes
Comedian, Just Nesh
Comedian, Abi Sanchez
He will also tour dispensaries, infused cafes and other emerging pot destinations to showcase the pulse of America’s cannabis culture.
Render, who spoke with Benzinga while filming at Manhattan’s Café Canal in January, appeared thrilled about the project. He emphasized how the show plans to tackle pressing cannabis issues while also highlighting the communal aspect through comedy.
Photo by Tim P. Whitby/Stringer/Getty Images
“I get to hang out with incredibly joy-filled people, smoke marijuana and talk about cannabis,” said Render, co-creator and co-star of the hip-hop group Run the Jewels.
Overall, he said the goal is to help further normalize cannabis.
Changing Of The Guard Needed In D.C.
Normalizing cannabis has its remaining hurdles. While the public has largely come around on the issue, stalled action on Capitol Hill and in certain state houses leave Render supporting a change in leadership.
He pulled no punches with his assessment, saying “I think the remaining hurdles are to get the old fucking politicians that are in charge now the fuck out the way.”
Render said opposing lawmakers “know that legalization is imminent and coming,” proposing rules he considers “dumbass hurdles” that obstruct the process.
He cited his home state of Georgia as an example, citing its strict medical cannabis program.
Under state law, patients are only permitted access to 20 ounces or less of low-THC oil. Medical cannabis oil is not available for purchase at this time, according to the state Medical Cannabis Commission.
Render called Georgia’s current state cannabis rules “senseless.”
Fighting Drug Stigmas, Calling For Improved Licensing Access
Render, a long-time activist, is well-educated on the history of drug war propaganda. He was quick to highlight the race-based attacks starting in the 1920s all the way through the Nixon administration’s ramping up of the drug war, with its effects ongoing.
“We know that Nixon propagated the drug war to be weaponized against hippies or freethinking white folks and black folks,” he said, adding, “I think it’s time to end.”
Advocating for equal ownership, Render supports licensing opportunities for drug war victims and their communities, believing that industry ownership should reflect state demographics.
While traveling the world, Render identified Amsterdam as having an amazing cannabis culture, and Denver for its cannabis tax system and efforts to increase black ownership.
In January 2022, Colorado’s Marijuana Enforcement Division announced that minority ownership surpassed a 16.8% goal, with officials calling for increased ownership over time.
Render called for improved licensing access across the country.
“It’s something to be said that the brothers that are offering to sell me weed right here on the corner do not have the ability to open a small store,” he said. “It needs to be easier for them to open a small storefront.”
Since this interview was conducted, New York State officials have announced that drug war victims and hemp growers will receive adult-use licensing priority when applications are accepted.
Render also was happy to see friends and advocates succeeding in the space. He highlighted Berner, hip hop artist, founder and CEO of the Cookies brand. He called the artist turned entrepreneur “a great ambassador,” for the cannabis community.
Photo by Joe Raedle/Staff/Getty Images
Haven’t Smoked Pot With Bernie Sanders Or Grandma
Like most, Render is eager about the possibilities cannabis can present.
He used his grandmother as an example. An arthritis sufferer who doesn’t smoke pot, she’s reportedly found relief in CBD topicals and cannabis edibles.
“My grandmother would never smoke a joint with me, even though I’m still trying to convince her,” Render laughed.
Another senior citizen Render is close to is Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders. The two linked up during Sanders’ 2016 Democratic primary run.
Like his grandmother, Render said he has not gotten Sanders to smoke despite his support of legalization.
“I haven’t gotten him to smoke with me yet, but I’m still trying,” said Render, flashing a smile to end the interview.
Mike Tyson, the iconic American boxer, launched a new product in March: ear-shaped edibles, in reference to his fight against Evander Holyfield in 1997.
His new ear-shaped edibles, called “Mike Bites” are missing a little piece. Yes, the little piece of Holyfield’s ear that Tyson took in that famous fight.
“Mike Bites” has already been rolled out in California, however, they will not be allowed in Colorado in their current form. Colorado has a law banning marijuana edibles that are shaped like humans, reported Westword.
HB 1436, a bill passed in 2016, aimed to ban THC-infused lemon drops, gummy bears, and other edibles that might attract children and prohibit the production or sale of edibles in the shape of a human, animal, or fruit for medical and retail marijuana-infused product manufacturers and dispensaries.
The vegan edibles are “directly applicable” to the law banning human body part shapes, Shannon Gray, communications director of the Colorado Marijuana Enforcement Division, told Westword.
“Mike Bites” will be manufactured in the shape of a “T” in Colorado. The gummies are expected to be in recreational dispensaries in the state before the end of the summer.
In Chicago, a shuttered iconic restaurant could serve as the perfect location for a new dispensary.
As cannabis earns legal status across the country, a myriad of businesses are now possible options for dispensaries. And what’s more weedy and trippy than a restaurant that looks like a jungle? According to Block Club Chicago, a shuttered Rainforest Cafe could be transformed into a pot shop this summer.
Per the report, the building in question closed August 2020 after 23 years of business. The new dispensary would be located in the old 22,000-square-foot building, providing the business with a lot of room for medicinal and recreational products.
The building is known for its distinctive decoration. Like most Rainforest Cafes, the establishment is cavernous with a wilderness theme. The outside of the building is known for its depictions of greenery, mushrooms, trees and the like, which would be replaced with something more appropriate for a new business, that signals customers of what’s going on inside, even though that seems like a missed opportunity.
“It’s much more tasteful and much more soothing than the garish stuff that’s out there now,” said Michael Riordan, president of the River North Neighbors Association, which is the neighborhood where the restaurant is located. “Everything seemed to be reasonable, and so there’s no need to not move them to another level and see what the larger community has to say about it.” If everything goes according to plan, the new dispensary could be approved by early May.
These types of news are becoming increasingly common. A couple of months ago, an old Family Video store was also offered up for a dispensary location in Ohio. Dispensaries need spacious layouts, establishments that can be difficult to fill by new businesses. Dispensaries have an added interest, not only because their new and novel, but also because it’s weed.
District of Columbia Council Chairman, Phil Mendelson, introduced a new emergency bill to reform the medical marijuana market in the nation’s capital where cannabis is fully legal. But due to a convoluted bicameral omnibus spending bill, marijuana sales are banned in the District.
The bill, scheduled for a vote on Tuesday, will allow for self-certification for adults 21+ to use medical cannabis and establishes a tax holiday for medical cannabis products during April.
“As we wait for Congress to lift its ban on a regulated, legal recreational cannabis market in D.C., this bill provides us with the opportunity to make it easier for people in D.C. to access the medical cannabis they need,” said Mendelson.
The bill is widely supported by members of the DC Cannabis Trade Association, which works to increase access to cannabis while improving social equity and diversity for all DC residents and the many visitors to the nation’s capital.
“As the owner of a dispensary serving the historic Anacostia community, it is impossible for legal dispensaries to reach patients when competing with unregulated, untaxed illicit operators,” said Linda Greene, owner of Anacostia Organics and chair of the D.C. Cannabis Trade Association. “This bill helps instill better regulation for the industry as it continues to grow and evolve, ensuring that communities have input into the businesses that serve them.”
Additional bill supporters include Grace Hyde, COO, District Cannabis and Secretary, DCCTA; Dr. Chanda Macias, owner, National Holistic Healing Center and CEO, Ilera Holistic and Ismael Vince Canales, past president of the Maryland Fraternal Order of Police.
“As one of the four Black-owned dispensaries in D.C., this emergency legislation will help us continue to serve these vulnerable patients with safe, tested products from licensed regulated operators,” said Dr. Macias, who is a guest speaker at the upcoming Benzinga Cannabis Capital Conference in Miami April 20-21.
Canales added that regulating locations able to sell cannabis keeps the community safe in more ways than one. “As we continue to see an uptick in crime at illicit shops given the cash-only nature of their business and the increasing prevalence of unregistered firearms in the District, this bill will help ensure crime around these shops throughout our community does not continue to grow,” said Canales.
The bill will be effective as soon as DC Mayor Muriel Bowser, who has indicated her support for the bill, signs the legislation into law.
The bill will streamline the licensure process for researchers seeking to conduct cannabis research and will facilitate access to an increased supply of higher-quality medical-grade cannabis for study purposes.
The House of Representatives passed the Medical Marijuana Research Act, which will substantially expand scientific research on marijuana, including allowing scientists to study products from dispensaries.
Filed by Rep. Earl Blumenauer [D-OR] and Rep. Andy Harris [R-MD], the bill will ease the process by which researchers apply for approval to study cannabis and will place deadlines on federal agencies to consider the applications in a timely manner.
“Cannabis has a wide range of therapeutic applications, but researchers have consistently faced significant roadblocks to conducting studies. Research is key to evaluating and unlocking the full potential of cannabis, and we applaud the House for passing legislation that would greatly expand the eligible supply of cannabis for studies,” said US Cannabis Council CEO Steven Hawkins.
What Does The Bill Do?
The bill will streamline the licensure process for researchers seeking to conduct cannabis research and will facilitate access to an increased supply of higher-quality medical-grade cannabis for study purposes. It will also ensure that research on cannabis and other potentially beneficial marijuana-derived substances is based on sound science by reducing the regulatory barriers associated with marijuana research.
“Today’s House vote and last month’s unanimous Senate vote on a more limited proposal both strongly signal that Congress is committed to cannabis research. We urge House and Senate leaders to consolidate their bills and pass meaningful cannabis research reform this year,” added Hawkins.
Senate-Approved Bipartisan Marijuana Research Bill
The latest breakthrough in cannabis federal reform comes on the heels of the Senate unanimously passing a different cannabis research bill sponsored by Sens. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Brian Schatz (D-HI), and Chuck Grassley (R-IA), and called the Cannabidiol and Marihuana Research Expansion Act. It was approved unanimously, without debate, after being reintroduced in February 2021.
Some companies are starting to catch on to the idea that cheap weed is a widely untapped market in the legal sector.
The rise of the marijuana dispensary has brought joy to many cannabis users. Marijuana dispensaries have helped diversify the strains of weed and have completely revolutionized the way Americans get high.
The legalization of recreational marijuana in many states has given birth to the trusted budtender, and even an occasional weed snob. In fact, there are a growing number of similarities between wine enthusiasts and weed enthusiasts. But not everyone is after the pricey cream of the crop. Many are simply looking for a cheap quality bud that provides a good high. But is cheap weed any good, or should you stick with the top shelf to ensure a premium experience?
The price of weed does not necessarily mean it is going to give you the best high. Nor does the most expensive weed even mean it is the best weed. There are, in fact, many factors that go into the price of weed. ”Everything from grow and extraction methods to crop yields, supply and demand, and natural disasters (like wildfires) can directly affect the strains available, the prices of each strain, and the quality you receive as a discerning cannabis consumer,” explains the Colorado dispensary Karing Kind.
Photo by Olena Ruban/Getty Images
This means there is a chance that a strain of weed can be inexpensive in an area where there is low demand and it grows easily. The same type of weed can be much more expensive, however, somewhere where there is high demand and there were certain environmental difficulties the plants faced during the growing season.
The price tag should not be your number one indicator as to how good the product is. Every plant has a different makeup, and while you hear the terms “Indica” and “Sativa” constantly, there is more to weed than just those two classifications.
“Individual plants produce varying effects, even among the same type of cannabis. It all depends on the plant’s chemical composition and the growing technique used,” according tohealthline. Not all types of plants affect people the same. It is important to figure out what “cannabinoid profile,” or the plant’s specific chemical makeup, works best for the type of effects you are after. You may find that what you seek can be found in a cheap strain of flower rather than an exclusive varietal that costs more than your groceries.
A 2020 study published in JAMA Psychiatry found that while concentrates and flower have very different THC levels, there was actually little to no difference in how high the participants got. The study concluded “differences in short-term subjective and neurobehavioral impairments did not track specifically with strength of the cannabis consumed.” So while you can certainly pay a premium for the highest THC weed, you aren’t guaranteed to get any higher than with a cheaper bud.
Photo by Drew Farwell via Unsplash
Some companies are starting to catch on to the idea that cheap weed is a widely untapped market in the legal sector. Companies likeHexo Corp are seeking to roll out affordable cannabis that can compete with the illegal market that has found continued success by charging lower prices than many dispensaries for flower.
“If it can gain a meaningful share of the low-cost market and even take some market share from illicit providers, it has the basis of a very nice business,” according to the National Institute of Cannabis Investors. “McDonald’s makes more money than probably every high-end steakhouse in the world combined, and it does that through low prices.”
So while it is surely fun to experiment with and discuss elusive strains and try the latest concentrates, keep in mind this is not necessary. Just like a wine connoisseur on a boxed wine budget, if you do your research, you can find a cheap strain of weed that will take you where you want to go.
THC stored in fat cells gradually diffuse into the bloods. Regardless, the rate of diffusion increases under circumstances that promote fat utilization, such as exercising and fasting.
Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) accumulates in fat tissue and can stay there for months. Although this can serve as a barrier to those who face frequent testing, athletes may take delight in the results of exuding THC from the fat in their bodies. Can you get high from THC stored in your body fat? Let’s find out.
Traces of water-soluble substances such as alcohol vanish from the body in a matter of hours. But in the case of fat-soluble THC substances, they tend to hang around a lot longer and sometimes out-stay their welcome. Though high levels of THC in fat cells cause a slight issue for most people, it could, in theory, add to the probability of recording a positive test for cannabis consumption.
Photo by Victor Freitas via Unsplash
Duration Of THC In The System
The ability to preserve fat has a crucial evolutionary purpose. In the past, our ability to retain extra energy in the form of fat meant that there was an internal supply of fuel to rely on when the long winter arrived. For most, a long winter never arrives. Thus, the piling up of fat tissues functions as a storage bank for THC. By depending on carbohydrates as the primary fuel source, many people never truly burn fat and, as a result, require a significant amount of time to get rid of all traces of THC.
It cannot be said for sure the exact time it will take for THC to leave the body. It is dependent on a wide variety of determinants, the most important of which is the strength of the cannabis taken and the rate at which it was taken. Anyone who consumes 90% THC shatter daily is likely to accumulate far more than someone who smokes regular flowers almost every day, for example.
Also, the metabolism of the individual should be taken into account. Diet, weight, body fat percentages, and activity levels all affect the metabolism of THC. People who are muscular and lean and use up higher amounts of fat are more likely to eliminate THC faster. In contrast, people with higher body fat levels and lower activity levels need extra time.
THC Metabolites
Excretion rates of THC across an array of consumers were analyzed in a 2014 study published in Basic and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology. During the research, the researchers observed that various THC metabolites remain noticeable for different lengths of time. Intending to test this, the researchers made subjects smoke a single joint. After the tests, they discovered that the levels of serum 9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) are typically below detection thresholds for twelve hours. Regardless, its main metabolite, 11-nor-9-carboxy-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THCCOOH), stays detectable for about one week in serum and for about two weeks in urine.
Both THC and THCCOOH might maintain detectability in the blood for close to a month in frequent cannabis consumers. The increased detection times are related to the gathering up and followed by the slow release of the THC from fat cells.
THC Levels And Body Fat In Athletes
The THC that fat cells hold gradually diffuses into the blood over time. Regardless, the rate of this diffusion increases under circumstances that promote fat utilization, such as exercising and fasting. In both cases, the body will turn to fat as a fuel source after the depletion of glycogen levels. In the instance of athletes, this implies that their THC plasma levels may rise while they exercise. The results of such an increase are two-fold. First, if the athlete uses cannabis prior to working out, they will probably feel the collective impact of the THC produced by fat cells and the THC consumed earlier. Secondly, even though the athlete hasn’t used cannabis for a significant amount of time, a positive result could be triggered by the increased plasma levels.
Photo by Alexander Redl via Unsplash
An investigation was carried out into how exercise contributes to increased THC plasma concentrations. In both fasted and fed states, fourteen regular cannabis smokers exercised for thirty-five minutes on a stationary bike. Researchers observed that subjects showed a statistically significant increase in plasma THC levels along with increased glycerol and plasma FFA levels.
Fascinatingly, exercise looked to be the most crucial contributor to the increased THC plasma levels, as researchers observed that fasting provided no significant difference to the plasma cannabinoid levels. Regarding the chances of returning a positive test, researchers proposed that the translation of blood THC levels in workplace and roadside tests might be disturbed by recent exercise. The subjects used in the study were regular cannabis users. The THC levels stored in the fatty tissues were more likely to be higher.
Redefining Runner’s High
There is a remarkable similarity between the chemical structure of THC and that of anandamide, a fatty acid neurotransmitter secreted during exercise. It’s named after Ananda, the Sanskrit word for bliss, and it shares certain similarities with THC, frequently leading to the improved mood related to a runner’s high.
In tandem with anandamide levels, THC secreted from fat cells contributes to higher plasma levels of bliss compounds. Both engage with CB1 and CB2 receptors in the same way, and it causes a heightened effect where athletes may experience higher feelings of well-being, also known to runners as the “runner’s high”.
Is CBD Stored In Fat Cells, Too?
CBD is fat-soluble as well. Upon consumption, the body stores the surplus amounts of the cannabinoid in the adipose tissues, as is the case with THC. This rarely turns into an issue when it comes to testing. The reason behind this is the fact that CBD is not intoxicating, and regular urine testing only probes for THC metabolites.
Bottom Line
Burning more fat for fuel is the best way to help the body remove THC from fat cells. Though fasting and exercising are common, dietary changes are also. Cutting down on the consumption of carbohydrates and taking more dietary fat changes our body’s primary fuel source to fat. As time goes by, the subsequent metabolizing of fat also releases the THC that has been stored. There seem to be no negative drawbacks, such as re-intoxication, from THC stored in fat cells. Still, those prone to regular testing should be aware of it.
New studies show which source of COVID-19 protection is more effective.
COVID-19 protection varies depending on a person’s circumstances. And while there are different sources of protection, two new studies show that there’s a group of people who has more COVID-19 immunity than others.
The studies prove that people with “hybrid immunity” are the best equipped to battle the virus. This immunity refers to people who’ve been fully vaccinated and who’ve also had natural COVID-19 infection. Aside from satisfying some curiosity, these studies also prove how important it is to be vaccinated regardless of the individual’s situation, with vaccines extending protection and minimizing the odds of hospitalization.
One of the studies had data from thousands of people in Brazil, a country that experienced serious bouts of infection. It showed that those who had a previous infection and then had a Pfizer, AstraZeneca or Moderna vaccine, had their protection was extended to 90%.
The second study, conducted by Swedish researchers, found that people with prior infections and vaccinations were less likely to get reinfected and experience hospitalization.
While the results were expected by researchers and experts, there’s one caveat: they were conducted prior to the Omicron variant, which operates slightly different than the first batch of variants. Still, researchers remain quite hopeful. In the near future, it’s very likely that the majority if the world population will have battled a COVID-19 infection and will have also had a COVID-19 vaccine, something that would then provide protection against emerging variants.
New studies continue to shed a light on COVID-19 and how the disease works. Results from a challenge study — a study where volunteers are exposed to the virus without having vaccines or previous protection and were then monitored for results — were recently released. Results showed the amount of virus that was necessary for infection, the length of time in which people start shedding the virus, and how long they remain contagious. Most interestingly, it also found that half of the participants weren’t affected by the virus, even while having no protection against it.
