“Reinfection will continue to occur”: COVID-19 immunity and risk of reinfection

More than two years after the COVID-19 pandemic, the majority of Americans now have some protection against the new coronavirus. Millions of people have been vaccinated or have recovered from their previous infections, producing antibodies that provide varying degrees of immunity.

Its immunity may prevent the most disastrous infections, but it is not absolutely certain, and it does not always prevent a person from getting COVID-19. The second Time — or Third Also 4th..

BA.5, a highly contagious submicron variant, is currently the leading cause of COVID-19 infection in the United States. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report.

The COVID-19 vaccine is currently widely available, but reinfection woke up In the last few weeks. A few years after the pandemic, experts said it wasn’t surprising. Virginia Pizzar, an associate professor of epidemiology at the Graduate School of Public Health, said multiple infections with COVID-19 are likely to be the norm.

“We will reasonably live with COVID for the rest of our lives, and reinfection will continue to occur,” Pitzer said.

The pharmacist fills the syringe with the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine (renamed Comirnaty) at the vaccination site in the Bronx district of New York. (AP)

Who is at risk of COVID-19 reinfection?

Anyone who was once at risk of becoming infected with COVID-19 is at risk of being re-infected.

Marta Galanti, a doctoral researcher at the University of Columbia who has been studying coronavirus reinfection since the COVID-19 pandemic, said reinfection and post-vaccination breakthrough infections are now common. initial.. Vaccination and pre-infection immunity still protects against serious illness, but that protection diminishes over time, she said.

Dr. Stuartley, a professor of infectious diseases at Johns Hopkins Medicine, said the risk of reinfection depends on the level of exposure to the virus and the strength of a person’s immune response.

He said that people’s behavior and the rate of COVID-19 infection in the community affect the level of exposure to the virus.People’s exposure levels can be higher, for example, if they are regularly crowded and in poorly ventilated areas, or if they have COVID-19 and are in close contact with someone who is the largest. I have Infectious ((((quick With their infection). In contrast, low levels of COVID-19 infection in the community can result in low levels of human exposure.

The strength of a person’s immune response depends on health and risk factors, and how recent COVID-19 infection or vaccination was.

Which COVID-19 mutant is circulating also affects the likelihood of reinfection in humans, Pitzer said.

“For example, your immunity to variants that were prevalent in late 2020 is, for example, 1 against the new BA.5 variants that are currently predominant, especially in the United States and other parts of the world. A more closely related viral infection that occurred a month ago. “

As a person Year, Their immune system weakens. Therefore, older people may be more susceptible to reinfection. People with immunodeficiency may also be at increased risk.

There is a COVID-19 antibody testBut Ray said they weren’t as informative as people might think.

“I tested my antibodies and got some results, but when I ask myself and other experts what those results mean, we’re not sure.” He said. “We really don’t know which antibody level corresponds to how much immunity.”

Healthcare professionals will collect blood samples for the COVID-19 antibody test in Los Angeles on May 20, 2020. (AP)

Ray, who has been caring for COVID-19 patients since the pandemic began, said he had seen breakthrough infections and reinfections “within a few months.”

April, CDC report At least 10 people in the four states were positive for Omicron variant COVID-19 infection within 90 days after being positive for previous delta variant infections. The report states that these reinfections occurred every 23 to 87 days.

Australian health officials recently recommended reducing the period during which someone should be considered immune after being tested positive for COVID-19. 28th day..

Anyway, how big is reinfection?

Researchers are scrutinizing whether COVID-19 (and COVID-19 reinfection) may lead to additional health risks in the future.

The big picture is still unknown, but some studies shed some light on this issue.

People who recover from a single COVID-19 case, whether mild, moderate, or severe, are at increased risk. Cardiovascular When mental health Problems in the months that follow, according to a study by veterans researcher Those who rely on a database of veterans’ medical records.

Ray also provided some anecdotal insights. “I took care of many people who had COVID a few months ago, but now I can’t work because of this kind of problem,” he said, blood clots, strokes, heart attacks, I mentioned low blood pressure when standing. Depression and the difficulty of concentrating as a problem.

This is due to a single infection.

But June studyAlthough not peer-reviewed, it also relies on VA data, indicating that reinfection carries with it the same significant long-term health risks.Experts said a study of veterans May not apply To the general public, Ray said they were showing that people should still be cautious.

“People should think it’s better not to get infected than to just get infected and ignore it,” Ray said. “There are signs of cost.”

How much does my immunity protect me?

Immunity diminishes over time, regardless of whether people acquire COVID-19 immunity from vaccines or previous infections.

According to Pizzar, the risk of infection increases six months after the latest COVID-19 vaccine.

“You are still protected from the most serious consequences of SARS-CoV-2 infection and the more serious illnesses that accompany it,” she said. “But you can certainly get infected or even re-infected with the virus.”

On June 28, 2022, in Miami, Florida, central pediatrician Emy Jean-Marie held her nine-month-old son Adedeji Adebayo on her lap, and Dr. Nizar Dowla on the right vaccinated the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare. Is a service assistant, Secretary for Health, Admiral Rachel Levine, left, staring. (AP)

It is difficult to compare the lifespan of vaccine-induced COVID-19 immunity with immunity from previous infections, Pitzer said. To do so, you need to control all the factors that cause someone to get infected. And she suggested that vaccinated people are likely to take additional precautions to further reduce the risk of infection.

“The real question people have to ask themselves is how they want to get immunity,” Ray said. “Vaccination is much safer than getting infected.”

How do people avoid reinfection?

According to experts, the same measures that help prevent the initial COVID-19 infection also apply to reinfection. People who choose to travel or attend large gatherings are at increased risk of infection.

“If you have symptoms that are consistent with a COVID-19 infection, even if you have a sore throat or a little congestion, get tested,” said Pizzar. “If the test is positive, isolate it and do not spread it to others, especially those who may be vulnerable to more serious results.”

During the Omicron wave, the CDC Recommended People are vaccinated, wear proper masks, wash their hands regularly, socially distance from people who do not live at home, avoid congestion, and regularly to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Inspect

Ray also encouraged people to be fully vaccinated, including getting boosters when qualified. He said wearing a suitable KN94, KN95, or N95 mask can help reduce infections.

“As a health care provider, when I’m caring for people with COVID, I always wear a mask in the hospital, but I haven’t got a COVID yet,” Ray said. “I think it’s because I’m wearing a mask carefully.”

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