Topline
Most people who catch Covid-19 are unlikely to get sick from the disease again, but relapses are more common than previously thought and the elderly are at a particularly high risk, according to a study Wednesday. researchers throw in as proof that vaccines are the best form. of protection against the coronavirus – even for people who are already infected.
Covid-19 test.
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Key facts
The study, published in the medical journal Lancet, looked at millions of people who underwent PCR coronavirus testing during the Danish nationwide mass testing campaign last year.
Only 0.65% of those who tested positive for the virus at the time of the Danish spring rise showed a good result during the country ‘s second wave in the autumn, suggesting a protection level against relapse of 80.5%. according to a team of researchers from the Statens Serum Institut in Copenhagen.
Among people 65 and older, the level of protection was just 47.1%.
Both have a higher recovery rate than other studies found, a report published by Lancet noted.
The authors of the study say that the elderly may be at higher risk of relapse from the coronavirus because their immune systems are less effective, a real problem as the elderly are more vulnerable to serious illness and death. from Covid-19.
Tangent
The researchers said that this study shows that vaccines are important for those who have already received the coronavirus, especially if they are older, because “natural protection cannot be trusted. “The coronavirus vaccines authorized so far vary in effectiveness, but most seem to offer more protection than natural immunity.
Quote Cruise
“All of this data confirms that, if required, for SARS-CoV-2, the prospect of immune protection against natural diseases may not be within our reach, and a global vaccination program with high-efficacy vaccines is the answer. permanent, ”Lancet said in a statement released with the investigation.
Amazing info
The study included people with mild cases of Covid-19, including those who had no symptoms. As a result, it is possible that some relapsed individuals had a very mild case for one of their two diseases, the study authors said.
Key background
As the coronavirus spread worldwide last year, researchers closely monitored whether patients can catch the virus twice. Most smaller studies have found that reactions are very rare as patients maintain their immunity for months, but the Danish study finds wide variations based on age.
What do you look
When data for the Danish study were collected, new variants of the coronavirus were not common in the country, the researchers noted. This could affect the risk of relapse, especially since some studies show that a new strain first discovered in Brazil can cause patients to become ill from an earlier type of relapse. virus.
Further reading
Coronavirus reactions are rare, Danish researchers report (New York Times)