Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Covid

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

Original poster

vaccine immunity lasts 90 days?

101 replies

Earlgrey666 · 07/12/2020 22:21

I'm wondering if someone knowledgeable can help. I was so excited about the vaccine and thought it was the light at the end of the tunnel and gave me hope that a normal life might be likely at some point in the next few months/year.

However the news over the weekend said that although currently unknown the estimated immunity after having the vaccine lasts around 90 days. Have I got this right? If so, how is this going to help us to get back to normality?

I was probably expecting an annual vaccination as we do for flu for example but 90 days isn't long at all.

OP posts:
MarshaBradyo · 07/12/2020 22:23

Can you link?

I don’t think this is the case. We don’t know how long yet.

Ethelfleda · 07/12/2020 22:24

Do you have a source?

LemonTT · 07/12/2020 22:25

No you haven’t got it right.

InterfectoremVulpes · 07/12/2020 22:26

I dont have a link im afraid but I read an article that said the vaccine is effective for at least 90 days because this is how long those who've had it have proven immune for so far but as its a new vaccine thats the length of time that's elapsed since it was administered.

oneglassandpuzzled · 07/12/2020 22:27

Nice try.

InterfectoremVulpes · 07/12/2020 22:27

Thats a bit garbled. 🤣

Basically no one has had the vaccine long enough for any studies on how long it lasts to be performed properly

conkersarebonkers · 07/12/2020 22:30

Lots of articles about this news.sky.com/story/covid-19-immunity-certificates-to-exempt-people-from-restrictions-likely-to-be-possible-12151178

"We conservatively estimate that a protective immune response after SARS-CoV-2 infection or vaccination may last for 90 days (moderate confidence)," they say."

("They" being the New and Emerging Respiratory Virus Threats Advisory Group, in a paper for SAGE.)

TheCountessofFitzdotterel · 07/12/2020 22:31

No, that’s not right op. 90 days is what they will have measured in a 3 month trial so it’s what they can guarantee. They will be confident of longer and hopeful of much much longer.

Have a look at this article on the La Jolla which talks about researchers into covid immunity being confident it lasts 8 months (because that’s how long it’s been around) and hopeful it could be years.

manicinsomniac · 07/12/2020 22:31

Are you sure you haven't got mixed up with the immunity gained from having caught Covid and recovered? That's supposed to be about 90 days.

KeysDontBelongInTheFridge · 07/12/2020 22:33

@conkersarebonkers I just read that article too. I presume that means minimum of 90 days but they’re not yet certain?

Original poster
Earlgrey666 · 07/12/2020 22:34

**oneglassandpuzzled

Nice try

What does this comment relate to?

OP posts:
KeysDontBelongInTheFridge · 07/12/2020 22:34

@Earlgrey666 After reading about it now I’m just going to presume they currently have no idea how long immunity will last! It’s all unknowns, so makes sense that this will also be an unknown too

Original poster
Earlgrey666 · 07/12/2020 22:35

I was trying to link the article that **conkers shared but it wouldn't work

OP posts:
CrunchyCarrot · 07/12/2020 22:38

I really think that memory T cell immunity will kick in, long after antibodies have vanished. That's pretty normal. Then your T cells will remember how to make antibodies if ever needed.

IcedPurple · 07/12/2020 22:41

However the news over the weekend said that although currently unknown the estimated immunity after having the vaccine lasts around 90 days. Have I got this right?

No you haven't.

Tomorrow is the anniversary of the very first case of Covid being diagnosed in Wuhan. Pfizer only started work on the vaccine about 8 months ago and human trials have only lasted for a few months. Therefore, they cannot say for sure that immunity lasts longer than 90 days because they have no evidence. That doesn't mean they're not confident that it doesn't last considerably longer than 90 days.

Headlines can be very misleading.

Original poster
Earlgrey666 · 07/12/2020 22:47

@IcedPurple Thank you, that makes sense.

OP posts:
conkersarebonkers · 07/12/2020 22:47

The paper is looking at immunity certificates so think of it like a guarantee on your fridge. If the guarantee is 5 years it doesn't mean they think it will stop working at that point, just that they will only guarantee it'll work for that amount of time.

And it is all [educated] guesswork at the moment.

teta · 07/12/2020 22:52

I heard from a scientist on radio 4 that they are expecting the vaccines to work for longer than the immunity from picking up Covid ie. 3-6 months. Whether the first wave of vaccines will be wholly successful at that is anyone's guess. But future vaccines will get better.

T cell immunity works better the younger you are and I don't think works effectively in the elderly. So different vaccines may well be used in differing age groups. The ultimate hope must be that an annual Covid vaccine may be given, like the Flu one, in future years.

Covid will still be around, as there are no plans currently to vaccinate anyone that's healthy under the age of 50. It will become an annual illness that's endemic in the population, but will stop causing so many fatalities

stovetopespresso · 07/12/2020 22:56

bo under 50s to be vaccinated Shock @teta I thought they were going to do everyone... eventually?

Wendyhaus · 07/12/2020 22:56

On tv this morning it was stated that the vaccine is not guaranteed to prevent catching the virus but will probably lessen the symptoms and likelihood of it becoming life threatening if the person is unlucky enough to catch it. I was shocked to hear that as assumed the new vaccine was promising a full 100% barrier to covid-19.

stovetopespresso · 07/12/2020 22:57

sorry meant "no" under 50s

EarlGreywithLemon · 07/12/2020 23:00

@stovetopespresso they absolutely are planning to vaccinate everyone. It’s just a matter of how long it will take to manufacture enough doses.

JacobReesMogadishu · 07/12/2020 23:02

@Wendyhaus

On tv this morning it was stated that the vaccine is not guaranteed to prevent catching the virus but will probably lessen the symptoms and likelihood of it becoming life threatening if the person is unlucky enough to catch it. I was shocked to hear that as assumed the new vaccine was promising a full 100% barrier to covid-19.
Id heard this, which if true means people vaccinated could still spread it.
wildbarnet · 07/12/2020 23:05

To be honest even if the vaccine stops severe disease that is enough now I know you will still get sick but as long as it blocks it getting to your lungs

AuntieStella · 07/12/2020 23:05

The source is this paper - but it's got a bit garbled

assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/940896/S907_NERVTAG_certifying_COVID_immunity.pdf

It says that no known human corona confers less than 3 months immunity, and there is nothing to suggest that SARS-COV2 infection will be less than that 90 days.

It concludes that duration and extent of immunity (ie whether sterilising or not) from both natural infection and the vaccines are unknown.

There are 2 studies on what immunity arises from the disease due to report soon.

Swipe left for the next trending thread