Infectious Disease Specialist Dr. Jerrol Thompson during an appearance on VC3’s Roundtable Talk, explained how COVID-19 re-infections occur, and how vaccination can minimize the chances of an individual becoming infected with the virus again.
“If you were infected last year with the Alpha variant, out of England; this year you could be infected with the gamma and the delta because they are more transmissible, they are more aggressive, they are much tougher, sterner variants; yes, they can cause a secondary infection.
Now, at the same time, to significantly reduce the chances of being infected at all, getting vaccinated reduces that possibility.” He said.
Dr. Thompson the goes on to discuss the decrease in antibodies which can lead to re-infection occurring.
“Now, what happens sometimes and what happens often, is that after six months the amount of antibodies in your blood may start to wear off, and as a result it may drop below the protective area. When you got vaccinated, you’ve now got hundreds of millions of antibodies in your blood waiting, ready for the virus, and the virus comes along, it will take care of them; but six months later the antibody levels could start to drop off.” Thompson said.
He said this is increasingly likely for those with conditions such as diabetes, hypertension and renal failure.
Dr. Thompson said that booster shots are essential in rebuilding antibody levels, and maintaining adequate protection against COVID-19 re-infection.
