As the world adjusts to the new normal of life during a pandemic, many of those fed up with social distancing restrictions have invoked the concept of herd immunity — if enough people get infected with and develop immunity to COVID-19, their thinking goes, they’ll act as a buffer to protect others from contracting the disease, and slow its spread. Epidemiologists adamantly advise against this approach for numerous reasons, including the steep cost in human life it would cause and the possibility that immunity may be short-lived. In fact, new research findings suggest that our immunity to COVID-19 might last only a few months.
King’s College scientists measured the levels of virus-destroying antibodies in 96 COVID-19-positive patients and health workers at Guy’s and St. Thomas’ NHS foundation trust, per the Guardian. These levels peaked at around three weeks after their symptoms emerged before quickly tapering off. Sixty percent mounted a “potent” antibody response in the midst of their illness — but three months later, only 17% showed a response with the same potency. Some had no detectable antibodies. Those with severe illness saw higher levels and longer-lasting responses, probably because they had more virus and made more antibodies as a result.
It’s important to note that these results appeared in medRxiv, a repository for preprints, or findings that have yet to undergo the rigorous review by other researchers required to be published in a scientific journal. “It reports new medical research that has yet to be evaluated and so should not be used to guide clinical practice,” a disclaimer at the top of the paper reads. Continue reading.