27.5% of people with past infection got reinfected by June 2021: Study

According to the study conducted in various parts of the world, it shows that past natural infection will not protect everyone against reinfection A study from India by CSIR, NCDC, in association with Cambridge University and MRC (UK) shows that past natural infection will not protect everyone against reinfection. Natural infection is believed to be approximately as effective as vaccination, but the protection from natural infection can be further enhanced by vaccination, through ‘hybrid immunity’. Recurrent infections within the same community are the theme of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Reinfections were mild or asymptomatic, did not cause death or serious disease in this cohort. A study from Iran has shown that multiple infections have occurred in several provinces. 70 per cent of fully vaccinated prisoners got infected in a single outbreak in Texas, multiple studies from India have shown rates from 8.2 per cent (KIMS Trivandrum), 9.6 per cent (Vellore) 16 per cent (Calicut) and 25.3 per cent (MAX hospitals) of breakthrough infections within a few months of vaccine rollout. These were mild or asymptomatic. Rajeev Jayadevan, Scientific Advisor & Past President, Indian Medical Association, said, "The data will help us redirect our strategies. 'Herd immunity' is a myth for this virus. We need to understand that clearly so that we don’t continue to make wrong policy decisions based on that."