Freedom of Information request on whether the MHRA have “considered the matter of the immune system's response to infection with SARS-CoV-2 variants as a result of the phenomenon of antigenic imprinting (FOI 21/1183)
Published 26 May 2022
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FOI 21/1183
26th November 2021
Dear
Regarding your email of 28 October 2021, where you asked whether MHRA can confirm whether we have “considered the matter of the immune system’s response to infection with SARS-CoV-2 variants as a result of the phenomenon of antigenic imprinting (AIM; also known as original antigenic sin/antigenic sin/the Hoskins effect) following vaccination with the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine (Comirnaty/tozinameran).”
MHRA rigorously checks all data received for the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine for any adverse effects that could be related to that vaccine. To date, MHRA have received no data that show that the phenomenon of antigenic imprinting (also know as antigenic sin/Hoskin’s effect) exists following administration of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine. As there is no evidence of antigenic imprinting for MHRA to consider, we hold no further information on this matter.
Best regards,
MHRA Customer Service Centre