Older People at a Higher Risk for Covid-19 Reinfection, Says Study

As per the findings of a recent study, older people have higher chances of recontracting the novel coronavirus. The study suggests that those over the age of 65 years, who have defeated Covid-19 one time should also be vaccinated as natural protection cannot be depended upon.

According to the study results published in the Lancet, most individuals are unlikely to get the disease again for at least six months, but he elderly are more prone to reinfection. It must be noted that the study of test results in Denmark in the past year showed that people under age 65 years, who have had Covid-19 were about 80% protected from getting reinfected. Moreover, protection dropped to 47% for people aged 65 years and older.

The authors of the study emphasises that as per the data, those who have had the virus should still be vaccinated. The Denmark analysis highlighted the original strain of coronavirus and did not make any assessment of new variants that are thought to be more transmissible.

It must be noted that the authors of the study analyzed data collected as part of Denmark’s national SARS-CoV-2 testing strategy. About 4 million people were tested over a period including the country’s first and second waves. According to the analysis, only 0.65% of people had a positive PCR test during both waves.

As per the authors, any evidence for protection against novel coronavirus reinfection waned within six months was not found.