A new study has found that immunity from coronavirus may only last a few months before fading away, meaning people could catch the disease multiple times. Research by Imperial College London saw antibodies wane in people who had coronavirus rapidly after their initial infection. Antibodies are an important part in the body’s immune system to fight viruses.
The researchers found antibodies reduced by 26% in infected persons between June and September. Over 350,000 people in England have taken an antibody test in the study. The researchers predict just 4.4% of Brits have detectable antibodies for COVID-19 at the start of the second outbreak of the disease in early September.
However, scientists believe that reinfections of coronavirus would be milder as some antibodies are likely to remain in people. The researchers said a vaccine would be crucial in ending the pandemic.
Antibodies represent just one part of the immune system. T-Cells could also be important for the body to destroy coronavirus cells. It remains unclear whether people could remain immune via other parts of the immune system. So far worldwide there have been very few cases of people catching coronavirus twice, though scientists warn immunity may only just be fading since the start of the pandemic.
Read more: Millions still at risk of Covid infection as ‘antibody immunity only lasts a few MONTHS’ –
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