• Advertise
  • Donate
  • Subscribe
    • Become a print subscriber
    • Sign up for e-Newsletter
    • e-Editions
Wednesday, May 31, 2023
No Result
View All Result
Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder
  • News & Features
    • National
    • Local
    • Special Editions
      • MLK Legacy
      • Black History Month
      • The MSR Celebrates Women’s History Month
  • All Sections
    • Opinion
      • Mellaneous by Mel Reeves
      • Word on the Street
      • Reaching Out From Within
    • Health + Wellness
      • Minnesota Cancer Alliance Breast Cancer Gaps Project
    • Sports
      • Timberwolves/NBA
      • Lynx/WNBA
        • 20 in 20
      • Twins/MLB
      • MN Wild/NHL
      • Vikings/NFL
    • Business
      • Small Business Month Celebration
      • Black Business Spotlight
      • Finances FYI
    • Arts + Culture
    • Photo Galleries
    • MSR Forefront Digital Roundtable Series
      • MSR Forefront Highlights
    • Go Green
    • Education
    • Bulletin
    • Jobs & Opportunities
      • Legals
  • Events
    • Submit an event!
  • Obits
  • Sister Spokesman
  • e-Editions
Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder
  • News & Features
    • National
    • Local
    • Special Editions
      • MLK Legacy
      • Black History Month
      • The MSR Celebrates Women’s History Month
  • All Sections
    • Opinion
      • Mellaneous by Mel Reeves
      • Word on the Street
      • Reaching Out From Within
    • Health + Wellness
      • Minnesota Cancer Alliance Breast Cancer Gaps Project
    • Sports
      • Timberwolves/NBA
      • Lynx/WNBA
        • 20 in 20
      • Twins/MLB
      • MN Wild/NHL
      • Vikings/NFL
    • Business
      • Small Business Month Celebration
      • Black Business Spotlight
      • Finances FYI
    • Arts + Culture
    • Photo Galleries
    • MSR Forefront Digital Roundtable Series
      • MSR Forefront Highlights
    • Go Green
    • Education
    • Bulletin
    • Jobs & Opportunities
      • Legals
  • Events
    • Submit an event!
  • Obits
  • Sister Spokesman
  • e-Editions
No Result
View All Result
Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder
No Result
View All Result

I’ve never had Covid. Does that mean I’m immune?

by Sean J. Ennevor, MD
September 7, 2022
131
SHARES
2.6k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on LinkedIn
Photo by Sora Shimazaki/Pexels.com

The simple answer is maybe, but not likely.

Many people here in the United States have some immunity to Covid due to prior exposure to Sars-Cov-2, vaccination to Covid, or a combination of the two. There are people who have been in close contact with those with Covid, have not masked, or are not vaccinated, but have no history of Covid-related illness.

Initially, we had limited testing, and thus could not confirm all who were Covid positive. As testing became more available, they noted the variants such as omicron and delta presented people with milder illness. Perhaps this was likely secondary to many individuals being vaccinated during these variants’ appearance.

Some “sick” individuals may assume their symptoms are cold or allergy-related and choose not to test. Although these individuals would have developed Covid antibodies, they may have low viral loads making at-home tests incapable of detection.

Causes of mild or no Covid symptoms

- ADVERTISEMENT -

These could be due to:

  1. natural immunity (could have a genetic component);
  2. cross protection from another illness such as a respiratory infection; or
  3. prior exposure to Covid, which then protects against future infections.

We have seen the generalized variants, alpha, delta, mu and omicron. Infection with any of the listed does not guarantee protection from a variant by another name. For most, vaccination or exposure to Covid only provides partial or temporary immunity. It has been reported that immunity may last as long as eight months after Covid infection.

Post-Covid infection the body responds with antibody production as well as increased production of B cells and T cells to attack the virus. Those that are immunocompromised or even pregnant may not mount an antibody response.  

Blood tests for antibodies were used early in the pandemic to see if these at-risk individuals had prior exposure to Covid, but not necessarily a gauge for immunity. Their exposure status was useful as they are at high risk for negative outcomes post-SARS-CoV-2 exposure.   

Immune status for all individuals would be useful in determining what kind of precautions any individual may need to take regarding Covid, or even if a booster is needed.

- ADVERTISEMENT -

New lab tests for immunity 

The existing antibody “immunity” test is expensive, time consuming, and doesn’t quantify the level of immunity. This explains the FDA’s position on immunity testing for Covid.

As of February 2022 the FDA has stated: “Currently authorized SARS-CoV-2 antibody tests have not been evaluated to assess the level of protection provided by an immune response to COVID-19 vaccination.”

The FDA position is taken as they believe an incorrectly interpreted antibody test has the potential of influencing people into taking fewer precautions against SARS-CoV-2 exposure, which can increase their risk of infection and may result in the increased spread of SARS-CoV-2.

Within the past month, advances in analyzing the antibodies (IgM and IgG) to the receptor binding domain (RBD) of SARS-CoV-2 have occurred. These antibodies block the SARS-CoV-2 RBD from binding to ACE2, the human receptor that the virus uses to infect cells. Specifically, a test was developed that can detect the presence of antibodies that block the SARS-CoV-2 RBD from binding to ACE2.

- ADVERTISEMENT -

SARS-CoV-2 and other viruses have shown a strong correlation between the amount of neutralizing antibody circulating in an individual’s bloodstream and their likelihood of infection.

Since our response to SARS-COV-2 is also mediated by T cells, measuring T cell activation is critical to assess the full extent of a person’s immunity. A study done June 2022 demonstrated that T cell measures may be more useful than antibody titers (amounts) for level of immunity. 

This is essential as variants like Omicron evade most of the neutralizing ability of antibodies.  In this way, tests that can measure T cells may provide more evidence of immunity toward emerging variants.

In summary, it is unlikely that an immunity test that all scientists and governing agencies agree is useful will be available immediately. As a result, we should continue to be mindful and take precautions as one sees fit in regards to SARS-CoV-2 exposure. 

Hopefully, as vaccines continue to be refined, we may have lasting immunity post-vaccination in the future as well as a reliable way to assess if we are immune.

- ADVERTISEMENT -

Support Black local news

Help amplify Black voices by donating to the MSR. Your contribution enables critical coverage of issues affecting the community and empowers authentic storytelling.

Donate Now!

ADVERTISEMENT
Previous Post

Biden calls for more guardians, fewer warriors

Next Post

‘Back in the Day’ Fest energizes Southside community

Sean J. Ennevor, MD

Sean J. Ennevor M.D. graduated with a B.A.S. in biology and economics from Stanford University, and as a Dean’s Scholar from UCLA School of Medicine, where he received his MD. He completed his medical residency and fellowship in anesthesiology at Yale University, where he was chief resident and on staff. He practiced medicine in the Twin Cities for over 14 years and presently serves as an advisor and investor for medical technology companies throughout the country.

You Might Also Like

vaccine
Health & Wellness

mRNA vaccines are not just for Covid

Numbers don’t lie: Get vaccinated to protect your family 
Health & Wellness

Numbers don’t lie: Get vaccinated to protect your family 

COVID-19
COVID-19

Twitter lifted its ban on COVID misinformation–a grave risk to public health

coronavirus
COVID-19

Real talk: Why Black people avoid Covid vaccinations

Experts urge patience, avoiding large gatherings to curb omicron ‘blizzard’
COVID-19

Experts urge patience, avoiding large gatherings to curb omicron ‘blizzard’

Dr. Crutchfield III gets COVID vaccine
Featured

Great news: Dying from COVID is now optional

Next Post
‘Back in the Day’ Fest energizes Southside community

'Back in the Day' Fest energizes Southside community

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
ADVERTISEMENT

The Latest News

Bees can learn, remember, think and make decisions

Bees can learn, remember, think and make decisions

Black woman shopping for produce

The impact of food insecurity on Black women’s mental health

Plenty of action at St. Paul City Conference track and field meet

Plenty of action at St. Paul City Conference track and field meet

 Lynx rookie forward finds much to learn

 Lynx rookie forward finds much to learn

Call of the wild: Hunting for edible mushrooms is not just a White man’s hobby 

Call of the wild: Hunting for edible mushrooms is not just a White man’s hobby 

One Minnesota’s transformative budget

One Minnesota’s transformative budget

Minneapolis
◉
88°
Fair
5:30 am8:51 pm CDT
ThuFriSatSunMon
90/68°F
86/66°F
88/68°F
90/66°F
91/66°F
Weather forecast Minneapolis, Minnesota ▸
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Upcoming Events

Apr 6
April 6 @ 7:30 pm-June 3 @ 9:00 pm Recurring

Wit by Margaret Edson

Apr 14
April 14 @ 9:00 am-August 12 @ 5:00 pm

Paper Is People: Decolonizing Global Paper Cultures

May 31
10:00 am-4:00 pm Recurring

Preserving Nature Photos by Walter Griffin: REFLECTIONS

Jun 1
5:00 pm-7:00 pm

Metro State University one 1 Open House

View Calendar

Read our latest e-Edition!

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Subscribe

  • Home/Office Delivery
  • Weekly e-newsletter
  • e-Editions

Support

  • Donate
  • Subscribe
  • MSR Newsstand Locations

Connect

  • About
    • MSR Staff
  • Contact
  • Send a news tip
  • About
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms

© 2023 Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder

No Result
View All Result
  • News & Features
    • Local
    • National
  • All Sections
    • Arts & Culture
    • Health & Wellness
      • MN Cancer Alliance Breast Cancer Gaps Project
    • Business
      • Black Business Spotlight
      • Finances FYI
      • Small Business Month Celebration
    • Opinion
    • Sports
  • Events
  • Obits
  • Sister Spokesman
  • Donate
  • Subscribe

© 2023 Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder

 

Loading Comments...