Young People Can Catch Covid-19 Second Time: Lancet Study
As per an observational study, Covid-19 infection in the past does not completely protect young people from reinfection. The study published in the Lancet Respiratory Medicine journal also emphasized the need for vaccination to boost immune response and lower the risk for disease transmission. The research was conducted on more than 3,000 healthy members of the US Marines Corps having age between18 years to 20 years.
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The researchers from the Icahn School of Medicine, US noted that irrespective of the previous Covid-19 infection and the presence of antibodies, it is still important for young people to get vaccinated whenever they can so that reinfection can be prevented.
Professor Stuart Sealfon, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, a senior author of the study reportedly stated that past infection does not guarantee any immunity and additional protection in the form of vaccination is a must for those who have had the coronavirus disease.
It must be noted that in the study, conducted between May and November 2020, around 10% or 19 out of 189 participants, who were previously infected with SARS-CoV-2 (seropositive) got infected the second time. The data was compared to new infections in 50% participants who had not previously been infected (seronegative).
In the study, healthy US Marine Corps recruits underwent an unsupervised quarantine at their respective homes for two weeks before entering into a Marine-supervised quarantine facility for another two weeks. An antibody test was conducted to establish whether any of them were seropositive or had been infected with SARS-CoV-2 previously and had antibodies. The recruits also underwent a test for new SARS-CoV-2 infection, followed by quarantine and completed a questionnaire including medical history, COVID-19 symptoms, demographic information, and risk factors.
In the study, most new coronavirus cases or reinfections were asymptomatic.
The researchers note some limitations to their study. According to them, the study may underestimate the risk of reinfection in previously Covid-19 infected individuals as it does not account for people with very low antibody levels with past infection.
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Disclaimer: This article is issued in the general public interest and meant for general information purposes only. Readers are advised not to rely on the contents of the article as conclusive in nature and should research further or consult an expert in this regard.
