October 10, 2022
Super-dodger
Am I a Super Dodger or was it the Bivalent vaccine? Somehow, I managed to escape infection despite flying to Texas and back for my 50th High School reunion. Yes, I really am that old.
So glad I went. Reconnecting with old friends was a gift. Reminded me of the good hearted people at my school.
I threw caution to the wind and didn’t wear a mask around a couple hundred people for two days. Also took my mask off to eat and drink on my flights.
Assuming I would test positive, I wore a mask in the house, ran our air filter, and slept in the guest room to avoid exposing Jamie for the CDC recommended 10 days. And guess what? All my tests were negative and I never developed COVID! Pretty cool.
I attribute it to the new Bivalent vaccine I got the week before I flew. The data shows good protection against the Omicron variants. If you haven’t gotten it yet, please do. Especially before a big trip or event to protect you. Many people haven’t heard about it. Many don’t think it will help. But it does. At least until a new variant comes along.
Spread the word. It doesn’t matter which one you get-Pfizer or Moderna, they both work well. I had essentially no side effects from this shot. You can get it at the same time as your flu shot.
But I could be a Super Dodger.
A Super Dodger is someone who doesn't catch a virus because of a genetic mutation of their own. This gives them a genetic advantage. Scientists are working hard now to understand why some people seem to avoid COVID-19 infection.
The idea of resistance to infection started with HIV. Some people never catch HIV despite multiple known exposures. Research eventually showed a “Delta-32” mutation in the DNA of genes that are responsible for the CCR5 attachment of the CD4 lymphocytes. This CCR5 attachment is how the HIV virus enters the cells. People with homozygous Delta-32 mutations are immune to HIV because they don’t have the CCR5 receptor. Those with one mutation in their gene (heterozygous) can still catch it because they still have receptors.
This was a critical finding for HIV because that mutation is how a few people have been cured of HIV. Due to having leukemia or other cancer, they needed Stem Cell Transplants. At least 2 patients with HIV were given stem cells from donors that were homozygous for the delta 32 mutation. Because all of the new white blood cells (WBC’s) in the body were replaced, HIV had no way to enter the cell and the patients were cured, with no further HIV found. Pretty cool really. But not a way to cure millions of people because of the risks of the stem cell transplants.
About 10 years ago I helped with a research study using “zinc finger nucleases” to try to snip off the other CCR5 gene in people with HIV that had one copy of the Delta 32 mutation (heterozygous). You need two copies (homozygous) to be immune. The research showed promise but was not enough to work. Now researchers are using the newer Crispr technology to try to make the same changes. Interesting stuff.
But back to me. (It is about me after all, right?) The concept of being a Super Dodger is nice to think about. All along, I have been vigilant with protective measures that prevent COVID 19. Masking, washing my hands, good ventilation, and distancing. Plus vaccinations and boosters. At the Reunion, maybe I wasn’t exposed because no one had it at the time. We’ll never know.
I like to think I was protected by the Bivalent booster because it targets the mutations in Omicrons variants. I am grateful I got mine before my trip. You can find yours at vaccine.gov.
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/09/15/opinion/covid-booster-shot.html
https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/health/new-covid-booster-rates-lag-in-wa-despite-urgent-public-health-messages/
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/09/18/us/covid-vaccine.html
https://www.jwatch.org/na55367/2022/10/04/data-behind-newest-bivalent-covid-19-booster
https://www.nytimes.com/article/flu-shot-vaccine.html
https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2022/09/07/1121599445/so-you-havent-caught-covid-yet-does-that-mean-youre-a-superdodger
https://www.npr.org/2022/09/28/1125525805/what-science-has-to-say-about-so-called-covid-superdodgers
https://www.advisory.com/daily-briefing/2022/09/14/superdodgers
https://www.discovermagazine.com/health/what-is-the-secret-to-covid-19-super-dodgers
https://www.wired.com/story/a-bold-effort-to-cure-hiv-using-crispr/
vaccine.gov