A study increases doubts about a durable immunity after Covid 19 infection: The antibodies against the virus in the British population had clearly dwindled in the summer, report researchers of the Imperial College London (ICL).
The scientists had examined the level of antibodies in the British population after the first wave of infection in spring. According to the results, the prevalence of antibodies in six percent of the population dropped at the end of June to only 4.4 percent in September. This suggests that the protection may not be long-lasting, writes the ICL in a press release.
Healthcare workers had fewer changes in antibody levels, possibly due to their repeated exposure to the virus.
“Vaccines may be better”
In the professional world, rare cases of a second corona infection have already raised questions about immunity to the virus. A study by the Chinese University of Chongqing had also shown that the amount of antibodies in the blood of recovered Covid 19 patients can decrease significantly within two to three months.
Experiences with other corona viruses suggested that the immunity might not last long, explained the scientists at Imperial College. And they emphasized that the rapid decrease in antibody levels does not necessarily affect the efficacy of corona vaccine candidates currently in clinical trials. “A good vaccine may be better than a natural immunity”.
The study of the British researchers has not yet been officially published and has therefore not yet undergone quality control by independent experts. So far it is only available as a preprint.
— hp, Source: orf.at, Picture: stockilyapp.com
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