MEDIA ADVISORY: WHO-led collaboration shows the level of immunity against COVID-19 after one year

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18 January 2023

MEDIA AVISORY

WHO-led collaboration shows the level of immunity against COVID-19 after one year

EMBARGOED UNTIL 23:30 GMT on 18 January 2023

A paper published today in The Lancet Infectious Diseases presents a systematic review of the level of immunity derived from COVID-19 infection, and from a mix of infection and vaccination known as ‘hybrid immunity.’

The analysis shows that hybrid immunity provides higher protection, demonstrating the advantages of vaccination even after people have had COVID-19.

Based on data from 26 studies, the analysis shows that protection against severe disease and hospitalization remains high 12 months after developing hybrid immunity or having an infection, when compared to unvaccinated and uninfected individuals. One year after developing hybrid immunity, a person had at least a 95% lower chance of getting severe COVID-19 or needing hospitalization, while those who were infected a year ago but not vaccinated had a 75% lower chance of the same.

Protection against reinfection was lower than that against severe disease, though still substantial. Those with hybrid immunity had a 42% lower chance of being reinfected one year later. Those who had been infected before, had a 25% lower chance of the same.

These findings are the product of a joint collaboration between World Health Organization, the Unity Studies and SeroTracker.

Request an embargoed copy of the article: mediainquiries@who.int

Read the article (post-embargo link): https://www.thelancet.com/journals/laninf/article/PIIS1473-3099(22)00801-5/fulltext

Media contacts:

mediainquiries@who.int

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