By Dr Anita Mathew
About ten months after the 1st case of COVID19 was confirmed in Kasaragod, Kerala on February 3, 2020, we still have a lot to learn about the novel Coronavirus. While our country’s tally of COVID19 tally currently stands at9.88million, the concerns about re-infection loom large. Much research is required to understand how long the antibodies developed after a recent COVID19 infection will protect a person, if at all – and are the antibodies even strong enough to fight a re-infection?
The question ‘whether one can be re-infected with COVID-19’ was answered in August 2020 when a 33-year-old man from Hong Kong was infected by the same virus a second time! This was followed by another case of re-infection of a 25-year-old man from the United States. While these case studies are yet to be peer reviewed, they bring clarity that re-infection is a reality. After these global developments, it was noted that if SARS-CoV-2 (virus that causes COVID-19), follows the footsteps of other pre-existing Coronaviruses, reinfection will be common-and will not remain to be a one off case study.
Now if COVID-19 re-infection becomes the ‘new normal’, will it follow the path of common viruses that give you cold every year as the season changes? If so, one must understand one key difference between the two – seasonal cold is not fatal, COVID19 can be, and can have a devastating & long-lasting impact!
Researchers across the globe continue to state that the life and strength of antibodies needs to be studied deeply; this would require conducting large studies with wider range of people who have recently recovered from COVID19. Closer to home, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) is studying the re-infection episodes among those who have been treated for COVID19. While more data driven facts are awaited, it needs to be understood that we cannot take antibodies for granted; they do not make for an ‘immunity passport’ as World Health Organization (WHO) aptly put it.
Now that it has been clarified that there is no fact-based understanding about the ability of our antibodies in fighting off a COVID19 re-infection, let’s talk about the next phase of beating the virus – vaccination. There’s need to take a closer look at how the vaccine deployment program will progress, how soon each of us will get the jab, and why it is important to get vaccinated.
The rollout:Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), India, recently released detailed guidelines about mass vaccination that will commence once a regulatory board approved vaccine gets the authorization
The priority: While this vaccine may be made available for emergency use, the in phase 1 rollout is aimed at healthcare workers, frontline workers, people over 50yrs, and those under 50yrs with comorbidities
Why get vaccinated?:Getting a COVID19 vaccine may prevent you from getting seriously ill even if you do get infected, and it will protect people around you, particularly those at high risk!
Now we know re-infection is real; so while we wait for the regulator approved COVID19 vaccines, lets continue to safeguard ourselves and our loved ones – it may be a few months before you get the jab if you don’t fall under the aforesaid category. Stay safe, positive, and if you’ve been infected before, don’t take antibodies for granted!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Dr Anita Mathew, is the Infectious Disease Specialist at Fortis Hospital, Mulund
