J Community Hosp Intern Med Perspect . COVID-19 reinfection: the role of natural immunity, vaccines, and variants

[tetano]

J Community Hosp Intern Med Perspect


. 2021 Nov 15;11(6):733-739.
doi: 10.1080/20009666.2021.1974665. eCollection 2021.
COVID-19 reinfection: the role of natural immunity, vaccines, and variants


Bao Y Sciscent ¹ , Caroline D Eisele ¹ , Lisa Ho ¹ , Steven D King ¹ , Rohit Jain ² , Reshma R Golamari ²



Affiliations

• PMID: 34804382
• PMCID: PMC8604456
• DOI: 10.1080/20009666.2021.1974665

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has altered innumerable lives. Although recent mass vaccinations offer a glimmer of hope, the rising death toll and new variants continue to dominate the current scenario. As we begin to understand more about SARS-CoV-2 infections, the territory of reinfections with COVID-19 remains unexplored. In this review, we will discuss several aspects of reinfection: (a) How is COVID-19 reinfection characterized? (b) Does prior literature differentiate between reinfection and reactivation? (c) What SARS-CoV-2 strains do the vaccines target and can they protect against new strains? Larger and longer timeline studies are needed to understand reinfection risks. With the ongoing distribution of the SARS-CoV-2 vaccines to provide protection, the understanding of the possibility for SARS-CoV-2 reinfection remains critical. Abbreviations CDC: Centers for Disease ControlSARS-CoV-2: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2COVID-19: Coronavirus disease 2019RT-PCR: Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain ReactionPASC: Post-Acute Sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Keywords: COVID-19; COVID-19 immunity; COVID-19 vaccination; SARS-CoV-2; reinfection.