For people who were infected, immunity to COVID-19 might last forever

Immunity to the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 appears to last at least a year, and it might last the rest of your life, according to a new study published in the journal Nature. Researchers at the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis found that after recovering from mild COVID-19, patients had antibody-producing cells 11 months after their first symptoms. These cells remain in the bone marrow and maintain a memory of the virus, possibly making antibodies to the coronavirus whenever needed. It’s unclear whether this protection applies to people who got the vaccine but never suffered COVID-19. In the coming months, we will know if vaccinated people who were never infected need a booster shot to maintain immunity.