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Coronavirus antibodies may only last two to three months once someone becomes infected with COVID-19, according to a new study published Thursday.
What’s going on?
- A new study — published in Nature Medicine — found that antibodies only last a handful of months in some cases.
- Researchers from the Wanzhou District of China compared antibody response from 37 asymptomatic people with 37 symptomatic people. Those without systems had a weaker antibody response than those who showed symptoms.
- Within eight weeks, antibodies couldn’t be found in 40% in asymptomatic people and 12.8% of symptomatic people, the study said.
- The study is a small sample size when you compare it to how many people have been infected by the coronavirus, which is closer to 8.5 million across the world. But researchers said the study will hopefully stop world leaders from letting those with antibodies travel to different countries.
- CNBC said: “Scientists say they are still learning about key aspects of the virus, including how immune systems respond once a person is exposed. The answers, they say, may have large implications for vaccine development, including how quickly it can be deployed to the public.”
Low antibodies still matter, though
- A second study published Thursday suggested that even low levels of antibodies can help fight off COVID-19. The study said about 20% of those infected may never show outward signs of the virus.
- Dr. Rasmussen, the Columbia University virologist, told The New York Times: “It does appear that even low levels of certain antibodies have potent neutralizing capability. Low antibody titers don’t necessarily determine whether a patient will be protected from reinfection.”