Recent study: Levels of an antibody found in recovered #COVID19 patients fell sharply in 2-3 months after infection for both symptomatic and asymptomatic patients, raising questions about the length of any immunity against the novel coronavirus. 🧵
reuters.com/article/us-hea…
reuters.com/article/us-hea…
2) “The research highlights the risks of using COVID-19 'immunity passports' and supports the prolonged use of public health interventions such as social distancing and isolating high-risk groups, researchers said.”
3) “The research, which studied 37 symptomatic patients and 37 asymptomatic patients, found that of those who tested positive for the presence of the IgG antibody, one of the main types of antibodies induced after infection, over 90% showed sharp declines in 2-3 months.”
4) “The median percentage decrease was more than 70% for both symptomatic and asymptomatic patients.
For neutralising serum antibodies, the median percentage of decrease for symptomatic individuals was 11.7%, while for asymptomatic individuals it was 8.3%.”
For neutralising serum antibodies, the median percentage of decrease for symptomatic individuals was 11.7%, while for asymptomatic individuals it was 8.3%.”
5) “study does not negate possibility that other parts of immune system could offer protection. Some cells memorize how to cope w/ 🦠 when first infected & can muster effective protection if there is a second infection- still investigating whether this works for new coronavirus.
6) To be clear - dropping antibody in blood does not necessarily mean immunity goes away. The library archive of your body’s immunity is stored in the “memory B cells” which can be summoned to create antibodies again for a certain pathogen later on. This is important to remember.
