Coronavirus: Can COVID-19 immunity last beyond six months for patients?

A year after the first official case of COVID-19 was spotted in China, a lot has been said and talked about the mysterious viral infection. While the virus is known to impact people differently, depending on their age, medical history and gender, one of the most puzzling things about the infection has to be gaining immunity against the virus.

Earlier, it was stipulated that a person could only catch COVID-19 once. Documented cases of reinfection shunned those rumours away. Yet, doctors say they don't have enough information on how long a person can be out of COVID risk, after clearing the initial bout of infection.

Studies so far have also detailed that COVID-19 immunity can present differently for people. While asymptomatic and mildly infected people go on to have lower immunity, kids and those with moderate forms of infection may have a different form of systematic immunity. There are some, meanwhile, who have been found to have COVID antibodies without having any history of the illness in the first place.

Recent researches have evaluated that contrary to evidence, immunity against COVID-19 can last for a long while. But what is the maximum threshold you can possibly stay away from reinfection?

It has been largely presumed that patients who fight COVID gain antibodies, however, which start to wane after a while. The most cited confirmation came from a July-based King's College Study which found that patients who suffered from COVID experienced a drop in antibody count after 3-4 months time.

However, in a striking piece of information which throws new light at the situation, a team of researchers from Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Rockefeller University, New York, have found that rather than depleting entirely, the virus-fighting antibodies become more potent and capable of fighting any mutations and virulent strains of SARS-COV-2.

While the study is yet to be peer-reviewed, initial reports suggest that the immune pathology of COVID recovered patients is 'well-equipped' to recognize and fight off any virus upon exposure in the future.

"The really good news is that people who are infected are very unlikely to become sick again for at least six months," one of the leading authors in the study, immunologist Michel Nussenzweig said.

Not only is the study under question backed with evidence, but it may also be another green light we have in our fight against COVID-19 and resume life back to normalcy.

The scientists closely analyzed the memory B cell levels of six patients. This is when they made a rather remarkable study. In roughly five months since the original study, these participants' memory B cells had picked up genetic mutations that altered the antibodies they produced.

While mutations have been only talked about recently, the scientists observed that the patients who had minute traces of the virus left circulating in their body, especially in their gut were more likely to have strong antibodies which could act against mutations.

Adding to their research, investigators, who also teamed up with doctors from Mount Sinai Hospital to critically evaluate the study have suggested that unlike any other viral infection, COVID-19 antibodies may be longer-lasting and powerful.

Researchers have also added that even if antibodies do start to wane out, the presence of smart memory B cells can help infuse neccessary antibodies in action when needed.

Another study, led by UK-based immunology consortium also suggested the same, after finding high levels of systematic T-cell immunity in recovered patients, six months after infection, with higher WBCs in those who showcased more symptoms.

Herd immunity, as a concept is full of flaws, and not workable in the present scenario. However, if we do want to look at a COVID-free future, till the time a vaccine becomes deliverable, the presence of strong antibodies which last upto six months the time may suggest that a large part of the population infected by the virus may be able to prevent reinfection and keep themselves protected for longer.

It could also provide medical researchers and doctors with a better timeline about COVID reinfection scenarios- preventive measures to adopt, how long is a personal safe for and when to be alert.

The very first case of reinfection, detected in Hong Kong may also add to the data. The suspected case of reinfection in the 33-year-old man, who became famous overnight was only detected 5 or 6 months after his initial COVID infection, nearly the same time Howard Hughes team of scientists peg robust COVID immunity to last.

The six months timeline is the longest we have heard of so far. It is yet to be confirmed, but at the same time, it's farcical to expect that we could have lifelong immunity against COVID-19. There is no piece of medical research which suggests the same.

Even with vaccines coming our way, we might be needing more than one dose of vaccine to keep COVID-19 at bay.

As for what works the best in keeping ourselves safe from the deadly virus, simple acts like handwashing, disinfection and distancing are the only forms of immunity against the infection.