Covid-19 Antibodies Protect Like Vaccines, but for How Long?

By Robbie Ix

JRN100 Reporter

Covid-19 antibodies developed after being sick with the virus offer people immunity similar to getting a vaccine and protection can last eight months or longer, a recent study shows.

Researchers at the University of Minnesota found people who had COVID-19 had an 84% lower risk of becoming infected for a second time, and a 93% lower risk of symptomatic infection. This affects those who have previously tested positive for COVID-19 and reassures possible immunity for reinfection.

According to the CDC (Center for Disease Control), After a person is infected with the virus, your body/immune system stores a memory of it. This memory is what we know as antibodies. Antibodies are the result of your immune system accepting recovery, after fighting off disease, offering brief immunity from the disease or virus. Antibodies are Y-shaped proteins that latch onto one's bodily foreign invaders, such as disease or infection. These proteins are found in the bloodwork and by testing patients who had recently or previously tested positive for Covid-19. 

New studies show that most people infected with COVID-19 still have antibodies to fight off the disease six months later. According to research conducted by the University of Minnesota, these antibodies can last up to 8 months or more studies have also shown. 

 The CDC states after acquiring antibodies to the virus that causes COVID-19 may protect from getting infected with the virus again. But even if it does, we do not know how much protection the antibodies may provide or exactly how long this protection may last. 

You may test positive for antibodies even if you have never had symptoms of COVID-19. This can happen if you had an infection without symptoms called an asymptomatic infection (CDC).

Whether you’ve recovered from COVID-19, received the vaccine, or neither, understanding immunity and how long it lasts can help give you important insight into how you can interact safely with others during the pandemic.

           Erika Taylor is a geriatric nurse practitioner currently working in nursing homes in New Hampshire. Throughout the pandemic, nursing homes have been hit harder than any other care facility in the country. 

Nursing homes, retaining patients and members whose age ranges from 50-100, is a hot spot for the virus. The elderly are much more susceptible and affected by covid-19, as it attacks the lungs and immune system. Taylor talks about her perspective and the scary reality from her work in these Nursing homes.

           “Residents in nursing facilities are some of the most vulnerable populations at risk for COVID and hospitalizations and death from this illness,” said Taylor.

“Persons who test positive for COVID typically begin to develop measurable antibody 7-14 days after illness onset and by 3 weeks most persons will test positive for the antibody,” stated Taylor.

A question that was frequently asked was asking if having antibodies affects the community and household around you. If you were to test positive for antibodies it is still recommended you have the vaccine for improved immunity and to boost your naturally acquired antibodies. Therefore, it may not be necessary and would not change what you would do. 

Recommendations for social distancing and mask-wearing still pertain even after COVID infection or vaccine. 

            “Potential benefit of knowing you have antibodies is not having to quarantine after travel or exposure,” said Taylor.

            A positive antibody test can help support a diagnosis when patients present with complications of COVID-19 illness. This being said, this person may test negative for acute infection but have positive antibodies indicating they had COVID in the past explaining these symptoms. 

Erika Taylor explained that “For some infections, antibodies might protect against reinfection. For others, they may not prevent reinfection, but symptoms may be milder. In yet other cases, antibodies may not protect at all," said Taylor.

Also, some test results may be “false positives.” This occurs when a person has been exposed to a similar virus detected by the test, but those antibodies don’t protect the new coronavirus.

           In a separate interview with Ben Snow, a lacrosse player at Dartmouth College, he explains his process with antibodies as he went through it at school.

           “When I first tested positive for the antibodies, I was relieved as I knew my immune system was able to beat Covid,” said Snow.

           Ben described the Quarantine process, and the precautions put in place for testing at Dartmouth. 

“After testing positive, and serving my 12-day quarantine, the school assured me I will not need Covid testing for 90 days after my last day of symptoms,” said Ben. 

As for many schools and universities, this is a very similar protocol, as the CDC requires a minimum of a 12-day quarantine, with release pertaining to one’s symptoms. Once infected, studies show the minimum general ‘Immunity’ period lasts up to 90 days. Because of this, students are given the option of 

“It was a total of 22 days away from working out and practice with the team, as it takes a while for the immune system and body to recover after showing symptoms,” stated Ben.

Regardless of whether your antibody test is positive or negative, the results do not confirm whether you are able to spread the virus COVID-19. Covid-19 has shocked our world as we know it. 2.8 million people have died from this disease within the last year and a half. Covid-19 antibodies are the result of the virus being fought within your body but do not guarantee one’s safety, especially long-term. 

The world has now started to see the Covid-19 virus mutate, as it takes on different forms, destructively working against the antibodies. It is not yet understood whether these different forms of Covid-19 all contract from the same antibodies.

Always wearing a mask, sanitizing, and following Covid-19 procedures will ultimately increase your chances of becoming infected. For antibodies, they create a brief immunity within your body from the disease, with everyone reacting differently.