Coronavirus antibodies offer protection from reinfection, study suggests
Since the coronavirus pandemic began, researchers have been tasked with answering an important question: For those who have recovered from a coronavirus infection, do COVID-19 antibodies offer protection from future infections, and for how long?A study published Wednesday in the journal JAMA Internal Medicine suggests that those who have COVID-19 antibodies have a significantly lower risk of reinfection compared to those who do not have them. Just under 12% of those tested were found to be positive for coronavirus antibodies, while some 88% were negative for them. The researchers, using follow-up data, found that less than 1% — 0.3% to be exact — of those who had coronavirus antibodies tested positive for a COVID-19 infection at the 90-day mark. (iStock) Researchers from the National Cancer Institute and companies including LabCorp and Quest Diagnostics conducted an observational study, analyzing data on more than 3.2 million Americans who had undergone a COVID-19 antibody test between January and August 2020. PFIZER COVID-19 VACCINE 94% EFFECTIVE IN REAL-WORD CONDITIONS: STUDYJust under 12% of those tested were found to be positive for coronavirus antibodies, while some 88% were negative for them. The researchers, using follow-up data, found that less than 1% — 0.3% to be exact —
