How badly and whether you get Corona depends on your blood group, Arthur Pernkopf heard that from an acquaintance. “Recently we philosophized in a small group on the subject of blood groups,” he writes to OÖN. Is it true that people with blood group zero are protected from infection with the coronavirus, he asks. “When checking the data of the patients, it turned out that people with this blood group are less often affected by a corona infection,” says Tilman Königswieser. He is medical director at the Salzkammergut Klinikum, a member of the state crisis management team and this time he is answering the numerous questions from the readership. Why the blood group protects cannot yet be said with certainty. There are many assumptions. One thing is certain for the doctor: that the next major wave of infection is imminent next September. “We assume that the wave will be particularly high in autumn, especially in combination with the upcoming flu wave,” says the member of the state crisis management team. “It would be advisable to have very good protection, i.e. to vaccinate shortly beforehand.” Until then, even if the infection situation eases, you should stick to the safety measures in place: compulsory masks, avoiding crowds and disinfection.
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Question 1: We recently philosophized about this topic in a small group. Can blood group zero carriers get this infection with the coronavirus less or not at all? Is there a scientific explanation?
Arthur Pernkopf, email
When checking the data of the patients, it turned out that people with blood group zero are actually less often affected by a corona infection. Why this is so is not yet clear. However, it could be related to the natural antibodies that we have in the blood, which are structured differently depending on the blood group. For example, blood group zero has antibodies against blood groups A and B. It is believed that it is the combination of the two antibodies that makes it more difficult for the virus to attach itself to the cells. But blood group zero alone is of course not enough protection against infection.
Question 2: If a disease can be equated with vaccination, then we would currently be on the best path to herd immunity. But what would actually be the result if we achieve this? Who sets this percentage?
Maximilian Födinger, e-mail
Immunologically, vaccination can be equated with an infection. But the doctors prefer the vaccination because one can assume in the longer term that people are protected from a severe course. From the total of those who have been vaccinated and those who have recovered, AGES has calculated that we currently have an immunity level of almost 90 percent. The virus is finding it difficult to spread further, which is also evident from the current decline in the number of infections. The problem is that the immunity wears off again after about four months. Hence the fall warning.
Question 3: We are over 70 years old, vaccinated three times. At the moment there is only talk of the challenging autumn, for which we should prepare. What about the summer? Even during this time we want to be protected from the virus.
Else and Ralph Rosenhain, Linz
The debate about whether to vaccinate a fourth time now or only in the fall is also about the current virus threat. The question arises as to whether it makes sense to vaccinate at a time like this, when the threat is decreasing. When the fresh protection immediately after the vaccination is best. We assume that the wave will be particularly high in autumn, especially in combination with the upcoming flu epidemic. It would be advisable to have very good protection, i.e. to vaccinate shortly before. In the meantime, I can continue to protect myself as usual: mask, avoid crowds and disinfection.
Question 4: If someone develops fewer antibodies, is it possible that these people are also less at risk of becoming seriously ill? Can you find out you had the virus even if you were asymptomatic?
Margarethe Schaupp, email
That’s a theory I don’t understand. Why should one be better protected against infection with fewer antibodies? The exact opposite is the case. If someone has no or hardly any antibodies, it does not mean that you have a good immune system. This means that the immune system has never learned to deal with the virus.
And yes, you can find out if you’ve been infected without even knowing it. The antibodies from the vaccine attack the spike proteins on the surface of the virus, the ones you get from recovery also attack the virus’s coat proteins. If you have such, then you were also infected.
Question 5: I have been vaccinated three times and have just had an infection with the coronavirus. Is there already data on how long antibodies protect against a new infection?
Albert Ortner, email
What you see here is that people with triple vaccination and an additional infection have the most comprehensive and best protection against further infection and serious illness. In general, I would advise vaccination just before autumn. The immune defense of the human body consists not only of antibodies, but also of the cellular defence. We know that the protection is at its best four months after the vaccination, and it’s still pretty good six months later. But that always depends on which variant of the virus is currently circulating. But you will definitely have some rest for the next four months.
Question 6: I was vaccinated with Biontech/Pfizer for the third time on September 22nd. When should I schedule a fourth vaccination, because I’m about to have a heart operation.
Ulrike Thonabauer, Pasching
Such cases should always be clarified individually with the doctor you trust. As a rule, however, we doctors recommend that you should go again six months after the third vaccination.
In special cases, this period can be shortened to four months. Especially when a major heart operation is pending, as in this case, you can leave earlier. From my feeling, I would advise that you could be vaccinated for the fourth time in the foreseeable future. Precisely because the third sting was a relatively long time ago, at the end of September, and additional protection after a heart operation cannot do any harm.
Source: Nachrichten
