Immunity to the Coronavirus May Persist for Years, Scientists Find

[JoanofArgh]

Immunity to the coronavirus lasts at least a year, possibly a lifetime, improving over time especially after vaccination, according to two new studies. The findings may help put to rest lingering fears that protection against the virus will be short-lived.

Together, the studies suggest that most people who have recovered from Covid-19 and who were later immunized will not need boosters. Vaccinated people who were never infected most likely will need the shots, however, as will a minority who were infected but did not produce a robust immune response.

Both reports looked at people who had been exposed to the coronavirus about a year earlier. Cells that retain a memory of the virus persist in the bone marrow and may churn out antibodies whenever needed, according to one of the studies, published on Monday in the journal Nature.

The other study, which is also under review for publication in Nature, found that these so-called memory B cells continue to mature and strengthen for at least 12 months after the initial infection. “The papers are consistent with the growing body of literature that suggests that immunity elicited by infection and vaccination for SARS-CoV-2 appears to be long-lived,” said Scott Hensley, an immunologist at the University of Pennsylvania who was not involved in the research.

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/26/health/coronavirus-immunity-vaccines.html

[Cracklin Charlie]

1. B cells rock!

This is great news.

[Johnny2X2X]

2. This should be a lead story in every newscast tonight

This is massive news! This is great! This is the biggest Covid story in months.

[pnwmom]

9. Not with that title it shouldn't. Too many people won't hear that they'll still need a booster.

Together, the studies suggest that most people who have recovered from Covid-19 and who were later immunized will not need boosters. Vaccinated people who were never infected most likely will need the shots, however, as will a minority who were infected but did not produce a robust immune response.

[The Magistrate]

14. I Agree, Ma'am

The headline does a disservice to the research.

This kind of sloppy journalism drives a good deal of popular disdain for science.

[CaptainTruth]

3. I was down sick with COVID for 3 months & I was vaccinated afterward.

I feel relatively safe.

[barbtries]

13. 3 months! that's brutal

so glad you've recovered, and it appears you need not worry about re-infection.

[Ace Rothstein]

4. Between the previously infected and the vaccinated, we have a good number with immunity.

Of course there is some overlap there but there just aren't enough hosts left for this to keep spreading on a widespread scale.

[stopdiggin]

6. Fully vaccinated are at 50%

Don't get me wrong, that is certainly helping, but ...
That large pool of intractable "Nos" are still with us.
Sigh.
This would be sooooo much better if our political leaders -- hadn't done so much initial damage.

[Ace Rothstein]

8. Yes but this also includes those previously infected.

The CDC estimates that number may be over 100 million infections at this point. There is likely a lot of crossover between previously infected and hard no on vaccinations due to how their behavior during the pandemic.

[qazplm135]

5. I always thought the folks

who were arguing that COVID would be with us forever were being overwrought. That's why vaccination was and is so important. We can beat this thing dead.

[wnylib]

7. So, just to be clear, people who had covid, recovered, and

and then got vaccinated, will have long term immunity to all forms of the virus.

But, people who are vaccinated but never had covid will NOT have that long term immunity to all forms of the virus. They will need to have booster shots.

The good news is for those who have had both the infection and the shots. It does not apply to people who have had the shots but not the infection.

[pnwmom]

10. Thanks. Too many people here didn't bother to read past the headline. nt

[wnylib]

15. I figured as much after reading their posts.

That's why I clarified it.

But, for eventual herd immunity, it is good news. I do wonder, though, about the article's emphasis on the immunity for people who have had covid since there are cases of reinfection after recovering from covid.

[Carlitos Brigante]

11. I just want my new mutant powers to be cool/useful... (talking to you Longneck from the X-Men..). nt

[barbtries]

12. So my friend Sandy will be able to forego her covid shots.

that's wonderful for her.

Still glad i never got it. high vulnerability, multiple comorbidities...it might have killed me for real. I'll get the shot when they tell me to from here on out.

this is good news.

[wnylib]

16. Sandy will not need booster shots if she has

had covid AND vaccinations. But if she only had covid and no vaccination yet, she should get the vaccine to develop the long term immunity that the article mentions.

[barbtries]

17. yes, she's had both.

i've only had the vaccination, but she did get COVID. fortunately a mild case.

[wnylib]

20. Good. At least some good comes out of it for her.

I'm with you on being glad that I didn't get it since I also have health issues that would have made it serious for me.

[pnwmom]

19. This article doesn't say anyone should forgo covid shots, even people who had an infection.

Together, the studies suggest that most people who have recovered from Covid-19 and who were later immunized will not need boosters. Vaccinated people who were never infected most likely will need the shots, however, as will a minority who were infected but did not produce a robust immune response.

Your friend who had Covid might not need further boosters if she was ALSO IMMUNIZED. However, since she had a mild case, she might fall into the "minority who were infected but did not produce a robust immune response." In that case, she'd need to be fully vaccinated PLUS might need a booster in the future, like the rest of us.

[barbtries]

22. i read the article.

she had Covid, and she is fully vaccinated.

[NightWatcher]

18. Science, Fuck yeah!

[Midnight Writer]

21. Where there is a "may" there is a "may not".

I read "may", "possibly", "most people", "most likely", "suggests", "appears to be".

Correct me if I am wrong, but are there not documented cases of re-infection and of people infected after their vaccination?

[NH Ethylene]

23. Yes. Both. Which makes me wonder how the combo of the two is so much more effective.

Like all the Covid info that is released, it is subject to complete reversal if one or two contradictory studies come out.