Bad news for the World and ?27 Oct 2020 13:51
Inan has obviously hacked LSE (LOL) and I couldn't post earlier. Amongst many.
In the DT this report . . "Immunity to coronavirus may only last a matter of a months, according to new research that could hinder the rollout of a successful vaccine. A study by Imperial College London, which involved 365,000 people, showed that antibodies in the population fell by more than a quarter in just three months. Scientists said the findings suggested a "rapid" decline in immunity – which could mean that even if a successful vaccine is found, it might have to be administered twice a year. The mass research indicated that, by last month, fewer than one in 20 people had developed antibodies to Covid. Commissioned by the Department of Health, it is part of the largest piece of a research programme informing Government policies. Its findings showed that by June, after the first wave of the pandemic, just six per cent of the population had developed antibodies, which suggest some level of protection against the virus. Three months later, that figure had dropped to 4.4 per cent, with most of the decline happening within just six weeks.
Scientists said the findings showed Britain is "miles off" achieving herd immunity, which they warned might never be reached without a vaccine. However, the research did not examine the role played by other forms of immunity. SOME SCIENTISTS BELIEVE THE PART PLAYED BY T-CELLS – a type of white blood cell that helps the immune system fight off viruses and is linked with prior infections by common colds – could be more crucial in fighting the virus. Scientists analysed home fingerprick test samples from hundreds of thousands of adults to establish "detectable antibody levels" over a period of three months, and found levels fell by 26.5 per cent overall. The largest fall was among those most vulnerable to serious illness from Covid. Among those aged 75 and over, antibody levels fell by 39 per cent, while a drop of only 15 per cent was seen in those aged between 18 and 24. Researchers stressed that it is not yet known what level of antibody response is required to protect against reinfection – meaning it is possible that even levels of antibodies that were not found by the tests were offering some protection. But they said the findings suggested a significant rapid decline in immunity, raising the prospect that those infected by Covid could suffer repeat infections in further waves.
The possibility that a vaccine may have to be administered as often as every six months increases the scale of the challenge ahead. However, the researchers said vaccines may prove more powerful than natural immunity. The sharpest fall was seen in those most in need of protection, with antibody levels among the over-75s reducing by close to 40 per cent between June and September." https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2020/10/27/covid-immunity-may-last-months-study-finds/
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