Immunity In Recovered Coronavirus Patients May Be Short-Lived

LOS ANGELES, CA — One of the most dire mysteries surrounding the coronavirus, is whether or not recovered COVID-19 patients have immunity from the disease. A study released by UCLA researchers hints that potential immunity could be short-lived. If so, it could mean that possible herd immunity is unlikely and that people could become reinfected over time.

Though far from definitive on the matter, the UCLA study found that antibodies against the virus that causes COVID-19 fall sharply during the first three months and decrease by roughly half every 36 days on average in people who have had mild cases of coronavirus. Researchers believe the antibodies would disappear within roughly a year if sustained at that rate. The findings may not bode well for natural immunity, but scientists caution that antibodies are only part of the story when it comes to fighting off COVID-19 infections. Though antibodies may dissipate over time, white blood cells known as T cells may still help recovered coronavirus patients attack the virus the second time they become infected.

The study, published in the peer-reviewed New England Journal of Medicine, is the first to carefully estimate the rate at which the antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 disappear, according to researchers.

The study analyzed antibody test results from 20 women and 14 men ranging in age from 21 to 68, including four who hadn't been tested for COVID- 19 but had symptoms compatible with coronavirus and had cohabitated with people who were known to have the virus. Most had been mildly ill.

Antibody tests were conducted of patients' blood samples at an average of 36 days and 82 days after their initial symptoms of infection.

"Our findings raise concern that humoral immunity against SARS-CoV-2 may not be long-lasting in persons with mild illness, who comprise the majority of persons with COVID-19," researchers wrote in the article detailing the study.

Researchers noted that their findings "call for caution" about antibody-based "immunity passports" for people who have had COVID-19 to return to work or travel, along with the potential for "herd immunity" and possibly vaccine durability.

"Further studies will be needed to define a quantitative protection threshold and rate of decline of antiviral antibodies beyond 90 days," the researchers noted.

City News Service and Patch Staffer Paige Austin contributed to this report.

This article originally appeared on the Pacific Palisades Patch