Iceland Researchers: "COVID Antibodies Last at Least 4 Months"

Antibody Levels Increase for 2 Months, Then Stabilize for 2 Months
Non-Smokers Have Higher Antibody Levels Than Smokers

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] Icelandic researchers have announced a study finding that antibodies against the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) persist for at least about four months, drawing significant attention. This is expected to greatly aid research on the durability of antibodies from COVID-19 vaccines.

On the 2nd (local time), according to foreign media including NBC, Icelandic researchers published their findings in the medical journal New England Journal of Medicine, reporting that antibodies in patients infected with COVID-19 lasted for at least four months. To investigate antibody production, the researchers collected over 30,000 blood samples from Icelanders, categorizing them into three groups: those infected with COVID-19, those exposed to the virus but not infected, and those with no confirmed history of virus exposure.

The researchers focused particularly on samples from 487 individuals who had undergone antibody testing more than once. They found that antibody levels increased during the first two months after diagnosis and then remained stable for the following two months. Kari Stefansson, CEO of Decode Genetics and co-author of the study, explained, "Antibodies were also found in blood samples from a significant number of asymptomatic individuals who had never undergone COVID-19 diagnostic testing."

The researchers noted that not all COVID-19 infected patients developed antibodies, suggesting that some individuals may have weaker immune responses or may have initially received incorrect diagnoses. Additionally, higher antibody levels were observed in elderly or severely ill patients, males compared to females, and non-smokers compared to smokers. This study is expected to provide valuable insights for future research on the durability of antibodies from COVID-19 vaccines.

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