Virus and antibody......

[FredK]

Normally you get a virus and your body builds up an immunity to it. Does NOT appear that Covid-19 is playing by those rules. They are finding that got it once and sometimes able to get it again. Looks like more research is needed.

Wonder if the vaccine is the same????

[Mike]

Just like the flu. You have to get a shot every year. This virus might require more frequent shots.

[wacojoe]

We are getting conflicting reports on immunity. Some early reports from South Korea said some had repeated getting COVID-19, then doubt was cast that the original diagnosis was correct because early tests were inaccurate. I have not read anything more recent on repeat infections. I saw one article that intimated that the immunity from those who have recovered from COVID-19 may only have immunity for a few months. Nothing definite.

The reason we get flu shots every year is that there is no “the flu.” There are many influenzas and the ones going around change from year to year and even mutate during the process. The flu manufacturers try to anticipate which flues are coming our way and inoculate for their guesses, which are often wrong, and which is why yearly flu vaccines are so ineffective.

COVID-19 is said to be mutating in many ways already and presents big problems to those trying to create an effective & safe vaccine for it/them. Very complicated. Always keep in mind that they have been trying to create a vaccine for AIDS since the 80’s with no success. Also, when they rushed the first Polio vaccine into widespread production it stalled that dread disease but at the cost of tens of thousands dead from bad reactions.

I hope they prove my skepticism unwarranted and we get a viable vaccine pronto. It is our best hope short of the virus dying out or mutating out of virulence. Then there is “herd immunity,” a concept that holds that when X% of the population has the antibodies, the virus does not have enough hosts left to propagate and dies out. New York State May have reached such a magic number. Testing indicates that cohort has ~68% in certain area of the state with the antibodies, I read. The “experts” argue over what constitutes the critical percentage for the theory to work. The common figure is ~60%.

[FredK]

Like you Joe, don't know is an answer. Where we go from here is anyone's guess.