Kids' antibody response to COVID-19 may explain their low rate of symptoms and severe disease

Embargoed until: Publicly released: 2021-03-23 02:00

International

Our ability to make COVID-19 antibodies might depend on our age, according to international research, which found antibody production was distinctly different in children, adolescents, and different age groups of adults. The authors say their findings suggest that the milder COVID-19 symptoms in kids compared with adults could be partly due to age-related immune responses. The study found patients aged 19 to 30 years exhibited lower antibody levels than children and older adults.

Media release

From: JAMA

Association of Age With SARS-CoV-2 Antibody Response

About JAMA Network Open: JAMA Network Open is the new online-only open access general medical journal from the JAMA Network. On weekdays, the journal publishes peer-reviewed clinical research and commentary in more than 40 medical and health subject areas. Every article is free online from the day of publication.

What The Study Did: This study examined whether the quantity and quality of antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 were different among children, adolescents and young adults.

Authors: Zhen Zhao, Ph.D., of Weill Cornell Medicine in New York, is the corresponding author.

(doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2021.4302)

Editor’s Note: The article includes conflict of interest and funding support disclosures. Please see the article for additional information, including other authors, author contributions and affiliations, conflict of interest and financial disclosures, and funding and support.

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conference: JAMA Network Open

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Organisation/s: Weill Cornell Medicine, USA

Funder: This research was partially funded by coronavirus disease 2019 research grants fromWeill Cornell Medicine and Translational Research Program of the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Weill Cornell Medicine. Dr Klasse is funded by grants R01 AI110657 and R01 AI36082 from the National Institutes of Health.

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