The immune response of our body tackles COVID-19 caused by catching SARS-CoV-2. This includes B cells producing the antibodies, which fight against the infection, and stimulation of T cells to attack virus-infected cells.
After the earliest infection is finished, antibodies stay in the bloodstream for most of us to protect against Reinfection. Early antibody test results show that antibodies stay in the body for at least 450 days. However, research shows that they can stay for at least 6 months or more. The body also has memory B and T-cells that stick around for months or even years. These cells know how the virus looks like, so the immunity can come into action if you’re infected again in the near future.
The effectiveness of the response by the immune system and levels of immunity after encountering COVID-29 vary hugely between people. We're all different, and so does our immune system is. Some people become severely infected from COVID, while others don't have any symptoms because of the deviations in the underlying immune response and many other attributes. There will also be a huge variation in immunity after the sickness.
How does natural immunity help against COVID?
More than 15 researches have explained the power of immunity gained by previously having an infection. A 700,000-individual study from Israel 14-days ago discovered that those who had previously encountered infections were 27 times less likely to acquire a second symptomatic covid infection than those who were vaccinated. This assured a report by June Cleveland Clinic of healthcare workers, which stated that no person who had tested positive at first for the Coronavirus got infected again.
The report's authors summed it up as, "people who have had SARS-CoV-2 infection are more probable to get advantage from covid-19 vaccination."
Thus, the growing science recommends that natural immunity is better and powerful than vaccine-induced immunity. That’s the reason why it’s so annoying that it was argued by Biden Administration over and over again that immunity acquired by the vaccine is preferred over the immunity gained by natural infection.
How can you reduce the risk of COVID infection?
It must be noticed that the research still has certain limitations. For example, it didn't show the severity of primary SARS-CoV-2 infection, a person's immunity status against it, and how long their natural immunity would last. Dr. Alexander Edwards working as an associate professor in biomedical technology, said, “Reinfection is not the actual problem for COVID-19. Rather the most critical point is acuteness of infection. If prior infection protects severe disease growing, it becomes less significant to the person if they get infected by the virus a second time.”
“Still, for COVID-19 we still don’t have a clear idea if initial infection will completely protect people from severe infection or death.”
The Bottom Line
Studies suggest that getting vaccinated above having had COVID-19 offers extra protection. Not only does this reduce your chances of acquiring the virus and getting seriously ill, but it also minimizes the chances of transferring it who may be more prone. COVID-19 is still a danger in the UK worldwide, so we must try our best to reduce the number of infected people.
Gaining the highest level of immunity in the maximum number of people through adopting preventive measures or widespread vaccination will lessen the levels of virus and infections in the community, saving us all and helping to end the pandemic.