COVID-19: Even Young Adults Can Be Reinfected, Says Lancet Study

Even young people who have recovered from COVID-19 are not completely protected from reinfection of coronavirus.

According to a study published in The Lancet Respiratory Medicine journal, vaccination is still necessary to boost immune response and reduce disease transmission among young adults.

The research was conducted on over 3,000 healthy members of US Marines Corps, most of whom were aged between 18 and 20 years, PTI reported.

The researchers, from Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in the US, noted that despite previous infection and presence of antibodies, vaccination is necessary to prevent reinfection.

“As vaccine rollouts continue to gain momentum, it is important to remember that, despite a prior COVID-19 infection, young people can catch the virus again and may still transmit it to others,” senior author of the study Professor Stuart Sealfon said.

“Immunity is not guaranteed by past infection, and vaccinations that provide additional protection are still needed for those who have had COVID-19,” he added.

Around 10 per cent — 19 out of 189 — participants who had already contracted the SARS-CoV-2 (seropositive) virus once were reinfected.

As for new infections, it was 50 per cent (1,079 out of 2,247) of participants had not previously been infected (seronegative).

Also Read: Strong Evidence That COVID Predominantly Spreads Through Air: Lancet Study