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June 01, 2021
9:37 AM ET
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The more scientists learn about natural immunity to COVID-19, the stronger it appears to be.
A pair of recent papers in Nature established that immune response to COVID-19 persists for up to a year after infection, and the body’s mechanisms for fighting the virus evolve during that time and may even grow stronger. Earlier research has indicated that the natural immune response granted by surviving a bout with the virus may offer comparable protection to a vaccine, although the science isn’t entirely clear.
The continued evolution of “memory cells” outlined in a pre-review Nature paper shows signs that the body may be able to adapt to fend off new variants over time. That may be key in determining whether the masses will require booster shots to supplement an initial round of vaccination.