Six weeks after infection, the antibodies are less effective at “neutralizing” the coronavirus.
These are the results of a new study by Canadian researchers from the Research Center of the Center hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal (CRCHUM). According to them, after two weeks of the onset of symptoms of the disease, more than 6 out of 10 people infected with covid-19 generate neutralizing antibodies. The latter fall by cons after six weeks. Hence the need for a few booster shots for long-term protection.
On a plasma sample of 108 patients between healthy, sick or convalescent, the study reveals that 90% of infected people develop antibodies against this virus three weeks later. The rate drops to 100% after six weeks. However, the effectiveness of antibodies differs between people, and therefore the neutralization capacity is not the same. Finally, from the seventh week, the antibodies lose their effectiveness in neutralizing the virus. The authors of the study reassure “We should not see this only in a negative way. Two weeks after infection, 60% of people have neutralizing antibodies. That means the remaining 40% fought the infection without these neutralizing antibodies. “
“The next step would be to focus on the level of neutralization required for an antibody to protect from the coronavirus,” conclude the Canadian researchers.
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