Is natural Covid immunity possible?

[Thudthudthud]

3 weeks ago DS(6) started with a cough and fatigue. It later transpired that his best friends dad had a confirmed case of coronavirus so it’s likely he had it too.

Since then everyone else in the family has had it as well to varying degrees and symptoms (cough and chest pain being the moment common symptoms). All except me who had a day of a runny nose and since then nothing.

Is it possible I have some kind of natural immunity or is it more likely it’s still going to hit me?

it's not known yet. There are seemingly many reports of people re-catching it or possibly dormant virus re-activating

ah didn't read the OP

No no one has any natural immunity to covid 19 that one is definite

the only possible way is having had it already but the waters are muddy on that.

Many people are asymptomatic. Idris Elba had a confirmed case with no symptoms, as did many of the passengers on one of the cruise ships (I forget its name). Doesn’t mean you’re immune, it just means you contract the virus without showing symptoms.

HoffiCoffi13 that’s fascinating, but what could cause people to present so differently? Some people die or need intensive hospital treatment and other people are completely asymptomatic? If both are infected with the same disease?

There was that thing about the bcg vaccination supporting the immune response though.

So I had the BCG jab 13 years ago. My kids and DH hadn’t had it. Could that be why they were ill and so far I’m not?

This study (Diamond Princess) shows more people who tested positive were asymptomatic than symptomatic.

www.eurosurveillance.org/content/10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2020.25.10.2000180

But it could be that some factor means your symptoms are mild or non existent. Eg the statistics already show that your chances of survival with this new virus are a lot higher if you’re female/ younger/ white, for example. It could be that the research frantically being done now will conclude in a few months’ or a year’s time that eating large amounts of leafy vegetables protects you, or that left handed people have natural immunity (I have absolutely no basis for that last example by the way, just an example of something which appears random which could turn out to be key). That’s how science works, isn’t it?
Disclaimer, I am not a scientist!

Actually, what is the definition of natural immunity? Off to google.

Well no one knows really. But it’s the same with many viruses... take chicken pox for example. My DD’s had it within two weeks of each other. DD1 had it first, she was absolutely plastered in them, really poorly for a couple of weeks. DD2 got 5 spots.

Apparently people are testing positive for a second time and it’s possible it ‘hides’ in cells.

This virus is just so nasty!

Confusedbutheyho there hasn’t been enough research done, but a lot of scientists believe this is either due to faulty tests, or is just like any ‘normal’ virus where someone gets it but doesn’t become immune. Going back to my chicken pox example, some people get that more than once. Very very few though.

It's interesting about the BCG. I had it as school but that was about 40 years ago. Does immunity last that long?

DD had it as a baby (she wasn't born in the UK) but DP hasn't because he showed immunity when they checked to see if he needed it.

We're not sure, but DP had a terrible cough and bad breathing problems in January. He really felt as if he was on his last legs. It may not have been the virus and, obviously since there is no widespread testing, we may never know.

DD and I have not had any symptoms.

I just cant see how natural immunity can be established at such an early stage.

I have never had chicken pox, not as a child, nor adult when both my children had it. That doesn't mean I'm naturally immune, a strain of the virus that causes CP in me presents as cold sores, usually when I'm exposed to sunlight.

I'm also following the BCG thread which is interesting. Interesting that Italy did not have a vaccine programme at the same time, as their European counterparts.

I've not had any symptoms of Covid-19 (thankfully), fit, healthy and in my 50s. But, I'm somewhat of a hermit in any event.

I’m a bit confused about the BCG thing, but perhaps I’m being dense- didn’t most people have it at school between the 50’s and late 90s - so wouldn’t that mean people of a certain age group wouldn’t be getting ill (yet they are)? I suppose it’s not blanket immunity though, perhaps just a factor ...

From what I've read in the UK, (I grew up elsewhere) there was a national vaccine programme for BCG from 1953 to early 2000s for all secondary school pupils at the age of 13/14.

From what I have read, there are some elements of the BCG vaccine that may be clinically used in the Covid-19 vaccine. I guess, as TB presented less and less as a result of the vaccine programme,and TB being a respiratory related disease, it makes complete sense to examine that programme. That's is what I can gather.

Some people die or need intensive hospital treatment and other people are completely asymptomatic? If both are infected with the same disease?

Yes (although it's thought that few people have no symptoms at all, just very mild).

That's not terribly unusual for this type of illness. At least once every winter I will be in bed struggling to breathe for a couple of weeks when others get over the same bug in a few days. My boss barley gets a sniffle. Humans have very varied immune responses (mine are shit).

The fact that Covid19 is so random is aiding the spread because people don't know they have it. Chuck in its complete novelty (so everyone is susceptible) and you have a lethal combo.

Not everyone had the BCG. I didn’t in the mid-80s. The council decided it was no longer a risk in Dorset. I no longer live in Dorset...

If you were ever to read up on HIV, or read HIV forums, you will find - many people who are hiv positive experience similar.

When diagnosised with hiv, many people can trace back to what they think there exposure was. Everyone is different after getting infected with hiv. Some people develop cold and flu like symptoms within a week or two and other people don't experience any symptoms at all.

At school in the late 70's. I reacted to the pre BCG test so they wouldn't give me the actual vaccination.
I was sent off to hospital for an x-ray - they said the reaction meant a) I had TB or b) I'd had it in the past and developed immunity or c) I had natural immunity.
It was a big worry for my mum and dad because my cousin who was just a few years older than me died of TB.
X-rays were clear so the answer was c)
No idea where that leaves me regarding CV but I think I have had it anyway.

I have a friend who has been quite ill with Coronavirus. Her DH tested positive but has had no symptoms and not felt ill.

I've never had chicken pox - when I was young my siblings had it and I've been around people and children since who've had it but I've never developed it. So perhaps some people have an immunity to certain diseases, or don't develop symptoms.

I looked on NHS site about the BCG. I had it at secondary school, over 20 years ago now. Apparently the jab should last 60 years. Interestingly they don't give the jab to people over 35 as it doesn't work then. Does this mean that immunity tails off after that age possibly? I had never ever had a chesty cough in my whole life, but last year age 37 I had a horrific chest, was suspected pneumonia, I was really ill for a good few weeks. Makes me wonder if I previously had some protection from the BCG?

I had symptoms mid-March. No-one else in my family did 🤷‍♀️ it was the relatively early stages before schools closed, I was still at work etc.
I did isolate in my room but dh bought me food and put it on the bed etc and then took it away. I did make sure the teens didn’t come near though.

Btw re CP - I had about 2 spots as a v young baby but was still immune 16 years ago as was exposed in pregnancy and had to have a test.

Apparently the jab should last 60 years

Where did you pick that info up? But that could tie together with the theory over 75s are more susceptible to Covid 19 ie getting the BCG around 13/14 + 60 years = 73/74

And clearly the effects aren't going to switch off like a light switch they'd be a decline in the effectiveness over a period of time.

Re the initial question nobody has natural immunity to Covid 19. But people seem to be reacting in completely different ways.