Hospital staff take part in study on Covid immunity

About 350 staff at the East Suffolk and North Essex Trust, which runs Colchester Hospital, assisted in the SIREN research study, led by Public Health England.

It saw thousands of healthcare workers from across the country take part in regular antibody testing and nasal swabbing starting in the second half of 2020.

The study has found people who have had Covid-19 may have some immunity from the virus for five months but could still pass it on to others.

The initial results, published yesterday, show only 44 potential reinfections were recorded among the 6,614 participants who showed evidence of a previous infection.

This indicates tantibodies from a past infection provide 83 per cent protection against catching Covid-19 again for at least five months.

However, early evidence also suggests a small number of people with antibodies may still carry the virus in their nose and throat, and therefore could transmit it to others.

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Consultant microbiologist Luke Bedford, the trust's principal investigator for the study, said: “We are really pleased that we have been able to play such a key role in this important study.

“Although the early findings show that a previous infection may lead to some immunity, we are still unclear as to how long that protection could last.

"At the same time, early evidence suggests that people with antibodies who have been ill with Covid-19 can still carry high levels of the virus, which means they could pass it onto others.

“It is therefore vital that everyone continues to do as much as they can to prevent the virus from spreading further, even if they have previously had Covid-19."

Professor Susan Hopkins, senior medical advisor at Public Health England and the SIREN study lead said: “This study has given us the clearest picture to date of the nature of antibody protection against Covid-19, but it is critical people do not misunderstand these early findings.

Dr Susan Hopkins during a media briefing in Downing Street. Picture: Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire

“We now know that most of those who have had the virus and developed antibodies are protected from reinfection, but this is not total and we do not yet know how long that protection lasts. Crucially, we believe people may still be able to pass the virus on".

The study follows participants for 12 months so that researchers can continue to explore how immunity may last.