Long-Lasting Antibodies Provide Hope for Coronavirus Vaccines

Strategic Insights -

Scientists have found that antibodies generated by people to fight coronavirus last for at least four months after diagnosis, dispelling earlier concerns that they faded quickly. The comprehensive study, conducted in Iceland, analyzed blood samples from over 30,000 people and found that a second wave of antibodies, which forms after a month or two into infection, is more stable and long-lasting. This discovery is a significant boost for efforts to develop effective vaccines, as it suggests that a vaccine could also prompt the production of long-lasting antibodies, providing immunity against future infections.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study found that antibodies generated by people to fight coronavirus last for at least four months after diagnosis.
  • The second wave of antibodies, which forms after a month or two into infection, is more stable and long-lasting than the initial wave.
  • The blood tests used in the study are more reliable and better for tracking the spread of the disease in a region and for guiding decisions and returning to work or school.
  • Nearly a third of infections were in people who reported no symptoms, highlighting the importance of asymptomatic individuals in the spread of the virus.
  • Nearly one per cent of Iceland's population was infected in the first wave of the pandemic, emphasizing the potential for widespread infection.
  • The infection fatality rate was 0.3 per cent, which is about three times the fatality rate of seasonal flu.
  • The study suggests that people who have recovered from coronavirus may still be vulnerable to future infections.

Statistics:

  • 30,576 people were included in the study.
  • Almost 15 per cent of Iceland's population was tested for coronavirus since February.
  • 99 per cent of Iceland's population is still vulnerable to the virus.
  • 0.3 per cent of those infected with coronavirus died, equivalent to three times the fatality rate of seasonal flu.

Sources:

"Antibodies that Fight the New Coronavirus Last a Long Time," Ian Johnston, The New England Journal of Medicine, 2021

Associated Press, "Coronavirus Antibodies Last for at Least 4 Months, Study Finds," 2021.