The COVID-19 mRNA vaccine generates enough of an antibody response to protect against severe disease for six months. But other vaccines offer years-long — even lifelong — immunity, such as the measles or yellow fever vaccines. Is there a way for scientists to tell how long a person's immunity will last? A team at Stanford Medicine might have found a way to do just that — with the help of some of the cells found in our bone marrow. Questions about vaccines or the respiratory season? Email us at [email protected] — we'd love to hear from you!Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy
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You're listening to Shortwave from NPR. Hey, short wavers, Emily Kwong here. And Jessica Young. With our bi-weekly science news roundup featuring the hosts of All Things Considered. And today we have Juana Summers.
Hey, happy to be here. It's the first news roundup of the year. So tell me, what is going on in the world of science?
Well, there's a new study on how the longevity of a vaccine may be decided by our bone marrow. And then another one on the math and science behind hula hooping. And we have a roundup of what to look for over the next year in space news. Love it. All that on this episode of Shortwave, the science podcast from NPR.
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Okay, I want to start with vaccines because it's feeling a little germy out there, y'all. There's so much flu and COVID going around. I am very glad I'm vaccinated.
Yeah, vaccines are so powerful. They train your immune system to recognize and fight germs. And one of the ways they do so is by prompting your B cells to create antibodies. You can think of antibodies like security guards. So the COVID mRNA vaccine generates enough of an antibody response to protect against infection for three months and severe disease for six months.
But other vaccines offer years-long, even lifelong immunity.
Lifetime security, like the measles vaccine.
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