4 ms·
How long can immunity typically last? Is 6 months some sort of specific break point, or has it simply been that six months have elapsed?
by everdrive 6y ago
How long can immunity typically last? Is 6 months some sort of specific break point, or has it simply been that six months have elapsed?
- Wintamute 6y agoMore likely it's because 6 months have elapsed. Cellular immunity to SARS-COV-1 (2003 outbreak) is still robust 17 years later - the two coronaviruses are fairly similar.
- SomeoneFromCA 6y agoPeople keep parroting that article. "Cellular immunity" mentioned in it may be not enough at all to prevent reinfection. Unless there is a direct rechallenge with the SARS-1 virus someone who already had it in 2003, there is no way to make such a strong statement. Good luck finding volunteers.
- Wintamute 6y agoIt's amusing how you put "cellular immunity" in scare quotes. It's not a new or novel concept, but an extremely well understood mechanism that has been taught to immunology first years for decades. That a coronavirus should exhibit a cellular immune response should be the baseline assumption, rather than the inverse.
- sieabahlpark 6y agoLearn how the immune system works in general. It comes down to having t cells which memorize diseases so you can flood your system with defenses. The difference is over time of fighting it (unless it's constantly present) the antibodies die down (because no need to make more if it's not around to begin with)
- spfzero 6y agoFrom the article, it seems like the latter. They tested at 6 months. If they test those same people again later, then we will possibly have a new high-water mark for the duration of immunity. For now, we can only say “at least 6 months”