What is known about CoViD immunity?

[ElBurroSinNombre]

This is crucial to our understanding of the disease and it is fair to say that we have been getting some mixed messaging. I would be grateful if someone qualified could give us a summary of the current state of knowledge.

Anecdotaly I have to add this. My daughter worked in an ICU for the lasttwo years up to September. In February she was working closely with someone who later turned out to be infected but she didn't get CoViD at the time the person would have been infectious. She worked through the spring and summer in the ITU with CoViD patients but again was not infected and does not have antibodies either. She has now gone to university in Manchester to train as a nurse. Two people she shares a flat with have tested positive and again she tested negative despite being in very close proximity to these people. Is it possible that she has T-cell immunity that cannot be detected? - it seems odd that she has been properly exposed at least twice (and probably more) and not had this disease.

 

[Goose]

It does sound that way Elburro, good luck to her you must be a proud dad with a daughter training in nursing at this moment in time.
what intrigues me in all this is certain countries are getting on with it and there seems to be very little in fluctuations in the numbers. Example Turkey, Istanbul everone with masks on, social distancing within reason, bars restaurants open but little change in numbers.
it’s been mentioned the figures have been under estimated but even so they seem to be doing ok as opposed to the UK.

 

[Wizaard]

The only person confirmed as being immune is Donald Trump. Because he says so.

 

[Mexboroseasider]

Well I had Covid in March and have got it again now.

Mrs Mex says the first was just a cold and this time “it’s something you ate”.

But I know better which proves there’s no such thing as immunity.

 

[Lala]

This is crucial to our understanding of the disease and it is fair to say that we have been getting some mixed messaging. I would be grateful if someone qualified could give us a summary of the current state of knowledge.

Anecdotaly I have to add this. My daughter worked in an ICU for the lasttwo years up to September. In February she was working closely with someone who later turned out to be infected but she didn't get CoViD at the time the person would have been infectious. She worked through the spring and summer in the ITU with CoViD patients but again was not infected and does not have antibodies either. She has now gone to university in Manchester to train as a nurse. Two people she shares a flat with have tested positive and again she tested negative despite being in very close proximity to these people. Is it possible that she has T-cell immunity that cannot be detected? - it seems odd that she has been properly exposed at least twice (and probably more) and not had this disease.

I read that it’s possible for some to fight of the virus with their own T cell immunity, without requiring a specific Covid antibody response.
Just what I read mind and for those with good strong T cells fighting their corner.

 

[rockontommy]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1316355594786353154

 

[ElBurroSinNombre]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1316355594786353154

Thanks for that - I don't think that the video is particularly controversial. The issue that politicians have to wrestle with is that there is a distinct possibility that the NHS could become overwhelmed - it may well do this winter despite the measures in place. If we get into a situation where people are being turned away from hospitals because they are full and then subsequently dying unnecessarily, the current level of public anger we are experiencing will seem like a vicar's tea party.

 

[rockontommy]

Thanks for that - I don't think that the video is particularly controversial. The issue that politicians have to wrestle with is that there is a distinct possibility that the NHS could become overwhelmed - it may well do this winter despite the measures in place. If we get into a situation where people are being turned away from hospitals because they are full and then subsequently dying unnecessarily, the current level of public anger we are experiencing will seem like a vicar's tea party.

Agree. My problem - well one of them - is that the government want it both ways. They hype up a second wave and produce the graph of doom (knock on effects for MH, economy, preventative care etc) but make what appears to be zero real preparation for what they predict. NHS being overwhelmed / nearly overwhelmed is not really news as it happens every winter and ICUs regularly run at >95% occupancy.

 

[deary]

Nowhere near enough as its such a new disease.
Very little in the way of actual facts around immunity have come to light as of yet.
In the next 12 months imo they will start to get a better handle on it.
It could however be a number of years though before definitive info is known/

Perhaps your daughter has special covid fighting powers?

 

[Seasider53]

I had symptoms back in mid March but thought it unlikely that I had it as it was early days and there were relatively few cases in the U.K. I had an antibody test in May that proved positive. During March my wife and I were in lockdown but in the house carried on as normal. She was perfectly fine. We assumed later she must have had It but had been asymptotic. She had an antibody test a few weeks ago and no antibodies. So I do buy into the theory that some people are naturally immune.

 

[ElBurroSinNombre]

Agree. My problem - well one of them - is that the government want it both ways. They hype up a second wave and produce the graph of doom (knock on effects for MH, economy, preventative care etc) but make what appears to be zero real preparation for what they predict. NHS being overwhelmed / nearly overwhelmed is not really news as it happens every winter and ICUs regularly run at >95% occupancy.

Yes the strategy we are adopting does not seem very clear. Johnson seems to want to please everybody and in doing so is pleasing nobody. We have both a very high death rate and a very badly damaged economy with no obvious end to this in sight. The good news is that some people are reporting that ITU conversion rate of CoViD patients is much lower in this phase of the disease, hopefully this will prove to be true although like deaths this measure lags behind the reported cases. We do know a lot more about treatments now so you would expect some decrease in ITU admissions.
As an aside, I did hear that Johnson remarked to Conte the Italian PM that the reason that we are having such high numbers is because British people value their liberty more in comparison with Italians (or something like this - it was told to me by an Italian). So, in Johnson's mind, the more cases we get the better we look compared to our European neighbours! WTF!