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How long does immunity to coronavirus last? Previously it was assumed that you could be re-infected as soon as the antibodies were no longer detectable. But a new study from La Jolla, California (USA) gives hope: immunity lasts for years, maybe even decades.
According to the New York Times, eight months after infection, most people have enough immune cells to fight the virus and prevent another illness. So the body not only has corona antibodies, which often decrease after a few months or weeks, but also a weapon against the virus.
Memory cells inspire hope
The latest data from the US study shows that even though the antibodies are no longer detected, so-called important memory cells remain in the body. Memory immune cells that continue to prevent reinfection. This was the result of an analysis of data from 185 recovered patients, obtained by researchers from the La Jolla Institute of Immunology.
“This number of memory cells would likely keep the vast majority of people from getting seriously ill again for many years,” Shane Crotty, virologist and co-lead of the study, told the New York Times.
The immune system remembers Corona and turns it off
Therefore, corona antibodies are not absolutely necessary for the body to react in case of reinfection. Rather, you need immune cells that “remember” the virus. These can prevent reinfection. The immune system recognizes the intruder that is already known and eliminates it.
“It can be stopped quickly enough that people are not only symptom-free, but also infectious,” said Alessandro Sette, another co-leader of the study.
Good news for the vaccine
This is also good news for the efficacy of the vaccine. It should reassure experts around the world that the duration of immunity is also crucial for the medium and long-term effect of vaccination. It may mean that you don’t have to get vaccinated over and over again, which has been assumed in the meantime. (euc)
