People who have recovered from COVID-19 are likely to have “robust” and “long-lasting” immunity that lasts for years, a new study suggests.
According to research published in Science, people who have recovered from COVID-19 have a very low risk of reinfection for at least five to eight months after contracting the virus due to extremely high levels of immunity memory – but now it seems that immunity lasts longer.
“Originally, there was a lot of concern that this virus would not induce a lot of memory,” noted Shane Crotty, researcher and co-author of the article. “Instead, immune memory looks very good.”
After studying the blood samples of approximately 185 people who had already contracted and recovered from COVID-19, the researchers found that, contrary to popular belief, 95 percent of the participants’ antibodies and the number of T cells decreased moderately after eight months after the original infection. resulting in longer lasting immunity. The researchers also found that the number of B cells, another component of maintaining immunity, remained largely unchanged or at times even increased months after the patient recovered from the virus.
According to the study, the immunity memory created by these numbers of antibodies, T and B cells can help the body to “restart antibody production and coordinate an attack against the coronavirus” quickly to prevent reinfection and potentially provide immunity by years, as with flu, smallpox and other diseases. The researchers were also quick to note that the same effect is likely to apply to the immunity that results from a dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.
One of the study’s limitations is that most people offered only a blood sample, providing only a sample of their current immunity. Another limitation is that a small portion of people “with poor immune memory” remain who may not benefit in the long run.
“Immunity varies from person to person, and unusual individuals with poor immune memory may still be susceptible to reinfection,” said Crotty.
Despite these potential setbacks, the researchers expressed hope that between the release of the vaccine and the growing immunity of the herd, “durable immunity against secondary disease COVID-19 is a possibility in most individuals”.
Jordan Davidson is a staff writer for The Federalist. She graduated from Baylor University, where she graduated in political science and graduated in journalism.