As concerns mount that herd immunity may not be enough to curb the COVID-19 pandemic, scientists in India and elsewhere said more studies are needed for a reliable inference. Wide conclusions cannot be drawn about reinfection from individual cases, noted Belgian virologist Marc Van Ranst told PTI on the three cases reported this week. Immunologist Satyajit Rath asserted that conclusions on the immune system working against the virus cannot be made from individual patient case studies. “We do not know anything about the interactions of immunity and reinfection in such patients. “Because the idea of a vaccine is to confer immunity to individuals via a complex web of protection with antibodies, and cells of the immune system,” Vishwakarma said.

Source: Hindustan Times August 27, 2020 15:01 UTC