Looking Positive

It's a limited study and not yet peer reviewed but the UK Coronavirus Immunology Consortium appear to have shown that immunity to Sars-CoV-2 can be evident for several months after an infection (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/nov/02/t-cell-covid-immunity-present-in-adults-six-months-after-first-infection). The study was carried out on non-hospitalised, heathcare workers, who were originally identified as infected by their antibody responses. Although the antibody responses were sometimes very fleeting, T-lymphocytes (white blood cells) remained elevated, for at least 6 months after infection. These elevations were evident in all infected people (even if the infection was mild or asymptomatic) but was considerably higher in folk who clearly displayed Covid-19 symptoms. Having activated T-lymphocytes, would mean a more rapid immune response to further exposure to the virus. This augurs well for a vaccination programme, as people may improve their defences against the virus even if they are not displaying continuously elevated antibody levels.