Is reinfection actually that rare?

[forinborin]

Have been making my way through studies on the reinfection frequency (in the context of omicron), and was surprised that while the estimates vary, all of them tend to agree that it is an exceptionally rare event with previous variants.

It has not been the experience around me at all. I can think of a two (unconnected) people who I know for certain (as in, had seen their PCR test both times with my own eyes) have had covid twice, with gaps of ~9 and ~15 months. I know many people who say they had it twice - I haven't seen the proof myself, but they are not known as habitual liars so at least some of them must be telling the truth.

What's your experience? Do you know someone who had it twice?

I hardly know anyone who has had it once let alone twice. Literally a handful of people.

SIL has had it twice second time she same but much less severity in her symptoms she's not a health worker she has WFH since the first lockdown and assumes she caught it shipping for essentials.
Second time she caught it was this summer she is double jabbed and went for a meal she was pinged the next morning 48 hours later lost her taste again and tested positive.
The first time she had it we all caught it she was really knocked sideways, second time she noticed the symptoms were there but didn't affect her anywhere near as much.

@MarshaBradyo
Yes PCR to confirm or if the 1st infection was March 2020 pre-PCR, then majority of HCPs were able to go for antibody bloods last July/Aug which would confirm the 1st infection.

There actually a really good study out of this now, from Israel. Big one.

Those are reinfections rates. Still some flaws in it, as not everyone pcr & antibody, which is what you need for full documentation of a case.

Note the graphical representation is a bit iffy. The months don't compare for the unvaxxed with the vaxxed

Am I right in thinking though that so far studies suggest that you almost can't get reinfected within the first 90 days after an infection (thinking about double or even triple vaccinated people not unvaccinated) z