Does COVID vaccine suppress the immune system?

It shouldn’t come as a surprise that a news station widely recognized for fanning the flames of vaccine hesitancy is running yet another anti-vaccine segment based on flawed claims unsupported by facts.

Let’s start with the facts first. An immune response can be measured by the presence of interferons (IFNs) in the body. Interferon is a natural substance that helps the body’s immune system fight disease. Research shows that interferon is produced—not suppressed—by vaccination and that those who had received a vaccine prior to hospitalization for COVID had a better antiviral interferon response than those who were unvaccinated.

First, the author of the first paper mentioned should cause some hesitation. Previously she has claimed that vaccines cause autism and suggests that glyphosate is a factor in COVID. Second, in this paper is a claim that, when compared with those infected with COVID, there is a “dramatic upregulation … of interferons (IFNs) in COVID-19 patients, but not in vaccinees.” arguing that this is consistent with the idea that the anti-COVID-19 vaccines actively suppress type I IFN signaling when that is not borne out by the evidence.” As we have explained above, research shows the opposite of this claim: interferon is produced—not suppressed—by vaccination.

Finally, the news segment claims that a Lancet study supports the conclusions of the paper. This is also untrue. The Lancet study suggests that protection from the vaccine wanes after a time and boosters might be indicated.