Yahoo Finance Past Covid infection doesn’t fully protect young people from contracting the virus again - study
Young people are not fully protected from Covid-19 reinfection if they have had the virus before, research suggests.
Scientists said that vaccines are still needed despite previous infection and the presence of antibodies, to boost immune responses, prevent reinfection and reduce transmission.
They added that young people should take up the vaccine whenever possible.
It comes as a coronavirus variant with a “double mutation” has been detected in the UK after having first emerged in India.
A total of 77 cases of the variant, known as B.1.617, have been recorded in the UK up to April 14, according to Public Health England (PHE).
According to an observational study of more than 3,000 healthy members of the US Marine Corps, most of whom were aged 18-20, between May and November 2020, around 10 per cent (19 out of 189) of participants who had previously been infected with Sars-CoV-2 (seropositive) became reinfected.
This was compared with new infections in 50 per cent (1,079 out of 2,247) of participants who had not previously been infected (seronegative).
Although the study was in young, fit, mostly male recruits, the researchers believe the risk of reinfection will apply to many young people.
However, the exact rates of reinfection will not be applicable in other settings, because of the crowded living conditions on a military base and close personal contact required for basic training likely to contribute to a higher overall infection rate than elsewhere.
In addition, a study including British healthcare workers found that those who had not been previously infected had a five times higher risk of being infected than people who had a past infection.
Professor Stuart Sealfon, the senior author of the study, said: “As vaccine rollouts continue to gain momentum it is important to remember that, despite a prior Covid-19 infection, young people can catch the virus again and may still transmit it to others.
“Immunity is not guaranteed by past infection, and vaccinations that provide additional protection are still needed for those who have had Covid-19.”
Recruits who tested positive for a second infection during the study were isolated and researchers followed up with additional testing.
The authors noted some limitations to the study, including that it is likely to have underestimated the risk of reinfection in previously infected individuals because it does not account for people with very low antibody levels following their past infection.
The Government said a further 30 people had died within 28 days of testing positive for Covid-19 as of Thursday, bringing the UK total to 127,191.
Read More
London tech leaders demand next Mayor champions digital
‘Urgent’ concerns over rapid testing as study examines blood clot risk
Blood clot risk from Covid far higher than from vaccine - study
TikTok and the virtual test drive: is this the future of car buying?
