Some folk may be hanging on in the hope of developing coronavirus antibodies without severe symptoms. Instead of taking sensible precautions while politicians seem to squabble merits endlessly. CNN reports a research study in England that suggests the less ill you are, the shorter your antibodies will last. But severe symptoms and enduring antibodies may sometimes make good bedfellows.
The Relationship Between Severe Symptoms and Enduring Antibodies
Researchers at Imperial College, London sent home finger-prick test-kits to over 365,000 randomly selected people in England. This was 12 weeks after the first peak in COVID-19 infections, and they repeated it 6, and 12 weeks later. They discovered average immunity waned 26% in those three months in their sample.
There are statistical limits to this finding because the researchers drew a fresh random sample each time. None the less, they are consistent with evidence immunity to seasonal coronaviruses declines during 6 to 12 months after infection. And that it’s becoming evident SARS-CoV-2 antibodies also decrease over time too.
The Ambivalent Relationship Between Calendar Age and Antibody Decline
This study, the UK Health Minister calls ‘a critical piece of evidence’ became public knowledge on October 26, 2020. It suggests infected people without symptoms are likely to lose their COVID-19 antibodies sooner, than those with severe symptoms. However, younger people keep them longer than older persons.
What’s missing, of course is hard evidence antibodies provide effective immunity from COVID-19, and how long this protection lasts. We know some infections, e.g. measles provide ‘sterilizing immunity’ that could last many years. However, we don’t know enough about severe symptoms and enduring antibodies to claim a similar conclusion for COVID-19.
Helen Ward is on the faculty of medicine at the school of public health at Imperial College London. She believes it’s essential to ‘follow guidance to reduce the risk to ourselves and others.’ Hanging on in the hope of developing coronavirus antibodies without severe symptoms, might therefore be premature.
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