Immunity against COVID-19 driven by vaccines may exist temporarily: Study

NEW DELHI: While researchers and scientists around the world are still trying to find a cure for COVID-19, a new study done by scientists based out of King’s College, London, has revealed that immunity against the coronavirus driven by vaccines may exist temporarily. The study found that people who have recovered from COVID-19 may begin to lose out on antibodies just three months after the infection. 

If this holds true, it might hold a clue to the fact that immunity against coronavirus may just be short-lived and most importantly, SARS-COV2 may just continue to affect population season after season, just like the common cold. The claim of antibodies beginning to wane away may also bring to light the real purpose of a vaccine.

For the study, the scientists sampled 90 healthcare workers and noted that the level of antibodies in the body peaked three weeks post infection and began to slowly fade away post that. According to the survey, while 60% of patients showed good antibody response during peak infection, only 17% amongst them continued to have the same antibody levels three months later. It was also observed that based on a person’s health and immunity before being infected, the level of antibodies may reduce by 23 folds and almost become undetectable. 

The sample study was done to observe the possibility of herd immunity driven by a vaccine push for the community. Lead author, Dr Katie Doores said, “People are producing a reasonable antibody response to the virus, but it’s waning over a short period of time and depending on how high your peak is, that determines how long the antibodies are staying around.”