Universitat Pompeu Fabra study links vaccination to long-term immune protection

A study conducted by the Infection Biology Laboratory at Universitat Pompeu Fabra suggests that vaccination provides benefits beyond preventing acute illness by protecting the immune system from long-term damage.

Using mouse models, researchers found that even after recovering from the acute phase of a viral infection, the animals experienced a prolonged period of altered immune reactivity. This impairment can compromise the body’s ability to respond effectively to future pathogens. Physical evidence of this disruption, such as fibrosis in the spleen, was observed in the subjects.

Lead researcher Andreas Meyerhans noted that while acute viral infections are often perceived as transient events that end once symptoms dissipate, the biological consequences can persist long after the virus is no longer detectable. The study, published in ‘Cell Death and Disease’, highlights that prior vaccination can prevent these lasting immunological setbacks.