A man in Germany who chose to have 217 Covid-19 vaccinations has become a focal point for research into the effects of excessive immunisation on the human body.
The unique case has offered insights into the resilience and adaptability of the immune system when subjected to repeated vaccine doses.
The man went far beyond conventional medical advice, pushing the boundaries of what is known about vaccine tolerance and immune response. Researchers did not reveal how he was able to gain access to so many vaccine shots.
There is official evidence of the 62-year-old man having 134 Covid-19 vaccines of eight different types over a nine month period, although he claims the amount to be 217 in total over 29 months. The majority of the over 60 million people in Germany adhered to the standard protocol of receiving just three shots.
“We became aware of this case via newspaper reports back in 2022,” Dr Kilian Schober from the Institute of Microbiology – Clinical Microbiology, Immunology, and Hygiene at Friedrich-Alexander-Universitat Erlangen-Nurnberg told The National.
“For us it was clear that this represented a unique chance to investigate the consequences of hypervaccination on the human immune system,” he said.
This initial spark of interest led them to extend an invitation to the man who lives in Magdeburg for a series of tests. “He was very interested in doing so,” Dr Schober added.
The scientific community had previously speculated on the potential consequences of what has been termed 'hypervaccination'.
Concerns were raised that excessive exposure to vaccine antigens might induce a state of fatigue in immune cells, potentially compromising their ability to respond effectively to pathogens.
The researchers embarked on a comprehensive analysis of his immune response, utilising blood samples collected over several years.
Not only did his immune system remain fully functional, but certain immune cells and antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 were present in considerably higher concentrations than observed in people who had received a standard three-dose vaccination regimen.
The results were published in the journal The Lancet Infectious Diseases.
The study revealed that the man's T-effector cells, vital components of the immune system's arsenal against viruses, were abundant and potent.
“The test person even had more of these compared to the control group of people who have received three vaccinations,” Katharina Kocher, one of the leading authors of the study, said.
Additionally, the researchers found no indication of a diminished immune response. On the contrary, the immune system's performance was exemplary, with memory T cells, which can develop into effector cells as needed, present in healthy numbers.
There was also a significant increase in antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 following his 217th vaccination, indicating that his immune system continued to respond vigorously to each new vaccine dose.
“High levels of antibodies and T cells could be expected after hypervaccination,” Dr Schober said.
“Of note, the quality was not affected, indicating that hypervaccination did not have a strong positive or negative impact on the immune system. In a way, this points to the robustness of our immune system.”
The comprehensive investigation also extended to the immune system's capacity to combat other pathogens, with tests indicating no compromise in its overall effectiveness.
“Our test case was vaccinated with a total of eight different vaccines, including different available mRNA vaccines,” Dr Schober said, highlighting the broad spectrum of vaccines administered without triggering noticeable side effects.
This aspect of the study underscores the vaccines' tolerability and the immune system's adaptability to various vaccine formulations.
However, the researchers cautioned against generalising the findings from this singular case to the wider population.
“He did not experience any side effects. However, it must be stressed that this is a single case and generalisability to a larger group of people is questionable,” Dr Schober said.
“Current research indicates that a three-dose vaccination, coupled with regular top-up vaccines for vulnerable groups, remains the favoured approach. There is no indication that more vaccines are required,” he clarified.
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RESULT
Esperance de Tunis 1 Guadalajara 1
(Esperance won 6-5 on penalties)
Esperance: Belaili 38’
Guadalajara: Sandoval 5’
Neighbourhood Watch
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The five stages of early child’s play
From Dubai-based clinical psychologist Daniella Salazar:
1. Solitary Play: This is where Infants and toddlers start to play on their own without seeming to notice the people around them. This is the beginning of play.
2. Onlooker play: This occurs where the toddler enjoys watching other people play. There doesn’t necessarily need to be any effort to begin play. They are learning how to imitate behaviours from others. This type of play may also appear in children who are more shy and introverted.
3. Parallel Play: This generally starts when children begin playing side-by-side without any interaction. Even though they aren’t physically interacting they are paying attention to each other. This is the beginning of the desire to be with other children.
4. Associative Play: At around age four or five, children become more interested in each other than in toys and begin to interact more. In this stage children start asking questions and talking about the different activities they are engaging in. They realise they have similar goals in play such as building a tower or playing with cars.
5. Social Play: In this stage children are starting to socialise more. They begin to share ideas and follow certain rules in a game. They slowly learn the definition of teamwork. They get to engage in basic social skills and interests begin to lead social interactions.
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Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
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The five pillars of Islam
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
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The biog
Siblings: five brothers and one sister
Education: Bachelors in Political Science at the University of Minnesota
Interests: Swimming, tennis and the gym
Favourite place: UAE
Favourite packet food on the trip: pasta primavera
What he did to pass the time during the trip: listen to audio books
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The biog
Favourite film: The Notebook
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Favourite activities: Walking on the beach, eating at restaurants and spending time with friends
Job: Founder and Managing Director of Mawaheb from Beautiful Peopl
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Key figures in the life of the fort
Sheikh Dhiyab bin Isa (ruled 1761-1793) Built Qasr Al Hosn as a watchtower to guard over the only freshwater well on Abu Dhabi island.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Dhiyab (ruled 1793-1816) Expanded the tower into a small fort and transferred his ruling place of residence from Liwa Oasis to the fort on the island.
Sheikh Tahnoon bin Shakhbut (ruled 1818-1833) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further as Abu Dhabi grew from a small village of palm huts to a town of more than 5,000 inhabitants.
Sheikh Khalifa bin Shakhbut (ruled 1833-1845) Repaired and fortified the fort.
Sheikh Saeed bin Tahnoon (ruled 1845-1855) Turned Qasr Al Hosn into a strong two-storied structure.
Sheikh Zayed bin Khalifa (ruled 1855-1909) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further to reflect the emirate's increasing prominence.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Sultan (ruled 1928-1966) Renovated and enlarged Qasr Al Hosn, adding a decorative arch and two new villas.
Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan (ruled 1966-2004) Moved the royal residence to Al Manhal palace and kept his diwan at Qasr Al Hosn.
Sources: Jayanti Maitra, www.adach.ae
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'The worst thing you can eat'
Trans fat is typically found in fried and baked goods, but you may be consuming more than you think.
Powdered coffee creamer, microwave popcorn and virtually anything processed with a crust is likely to contain it, as this guide from Mayo Clinic outlines:
Baked goods - Most cakes, cookies, pie crusts and crackers contain shortening, which is usually made from partially hydrogenated vegetable oil. Ready-made frosting is another source of trans fat.
Snacks - Potato, corn and tortilla chips often contain trans fat. And while popcorn can be a healthy snack, many types of packaged or microwave popcorn use trans fat to help cook or flavour the popcorn.
Fried food - Foods that require deep frying — french fries, doughnuts and fried chicken — can contain trans fat from the oil used in the cooking process.
Refrigerator dough - Products such as canned biscuits and cinnamon rolls often contain trans fat, as do frozen pizza crusts.
Creamer and margarine - Nondairy coffee creamer and stick margarines also may contain partially hydrogenated vegetable oils.
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Where to submit a sample
Volunteers of all ages can submit DNA samples at centres across Abu Dhabi, including: Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (Adnec), Biogenix Labs in Masdar City, NMC Royal Hospital in Khalifa City, NMC Royal Medical Centre, Abu Dhabi, NMC Royal Women's Hospital, Bareen International Hospital, Al Towayya in Al Ain, NMC Specialty Hospital, Al Ain
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The specs: 2019 Haval H6
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Engine: 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 197hp @ 5,500rpm
Torque: 315Nm @ 2,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 7.0L / 100km
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
National Editorial: Suleimani has been killed, now we must de-escalate
Mina Al Oraibi: Air strike casts a long shadow over the decade ahead
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Guns N’ Roses’s last gig before Abu Dhabi was in Hong Kong on November 21. We were there – and here’s what they played, and in what order. You were warned.
- It’s So Easy
- Mr Brownstone
- Chinese Democracy
- Welcome to the Jungle
- Double Talkin’ Jive
- Better
- Estranged
- Live and Let Die (Wings cover)
- Slither (Velvet Revolver cover)
- Rocket Queen
- You Could Be Mine
- Shadow of Your Love
- Attitude (Misfits cover)
- Civil War
- Coma
- Love Theme from The Godfather (movie cover)
- Sweet Child O’ Mine
- Wichita Lineman (Jimmy Webb cover)
- Wish You Were Here (instrumental Pink Floyd cover)
- November Rain
- Black Hole Sun (Soundgarden cover)
- Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door (Bob Dylan cover)
- Nightrain
Encore:
- Patience
- Don’t Cry
- The Seeker (The Who cover)
- Paradise City
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
National Editorial: Suleimani has been killed, now we must de-escalate
Jack Moore: Why the assassination is such a monumental gamble
Matthew Levitt: Iran retains its ability to launch terror attacks
Damien McElroy: A CEO tasked with spreading Iran's influence
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Company profile
Company: Verity
Date started: May 2021
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Based: Dubai
Sector: FinTech
Size: four team members
Stage: Intially bootstrapped but recently closed its first pre-seed round of $800,000
Investors: Wamda, VentureSouq, Beyond Capital and regional angel investors
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