How long do SARS-CoV-2 antibodies remain after infection?

COVID-19 vaccines are playing a major role in protecting people from infection with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. A study has determined that SARS-CoV-2 antibodies remain stable for at least 7 months after infection with the virus.

A previous SARS-CoV-2 infection offers a person some level of protection against reinfection.

In a new study, which appears in the journal Nature Communications, researchers report that SARS-CoV-2 antibodies remain stable for at least 7 months following infection. There were also signs that levels of some neutralizing antibodies increased during this time.

Furthermore, the researchers found evidence that past infection with one of four human coronaviruses that cause the common cold may provide some protection against infection with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.

Antibody response:

A key way to protect people from COVID-19 is to ensure that they have antibodies that can neutralize the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The vaccines contain a small portion of the SARS-CoV-2 — the spike protein — or in the case of mRNA vaccines, just the genetic code to make the spike protein. In response to either, a person’s immune system develops antibodies.

These antibodies can then inactivate SARS-CoV-2 if exposed to the virus, either reducing the severity of infection or stopping it entirely.

"SARS-CoV-2 is a type of coronavirus, as are four viruses that cause the common cold. Scientists are also interested in whether antibodies developed in response to one of the common cold coronaviruses may offer protection against SARS-CoV-2" 

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