Immunity against Covid-19 after vaccination lessens within 6-12 months - epidemiologist

• Published date: 21 July 2022
• Publication title: LETA

RIGA, July 21 (LETA) - Immunity against Covid-19 after vaccination lessens within 6-12 months, and people in risk groups should avoid large gatherings and wear face masks, Girts Brigis, head of the Department of Public Health and Epidemiology at Riga Stradins University (RSU), told Latvian Television this morning.

He pointed out that the increase in the infection rate was not really unexpected, as the experience of other countries showed to this, but the good news is that, for example, in Portugal, which was one of the first countries to see a rise in infection rates once again, the extent of the virus is now decreasing.

The virus is constantly changing. Omicron is much more contagious, but the severity is much lower and people are less likely to end up in the hospital. Brigis emphasized that it should be taken into account that Latvian society as a whole has a relatively low health status, therefore, if any other infection is in tandem of other illnesses, it poses a threat to life. Immunity is influenced by both the history of virus recovery and vaccination, while virus recovery of Covid-19 in combination with vaccination is considered the strongest form of protection against severe symptoms.

Covid-19 is not a disease against which vaccination immunity would be preserved lifetime - immunity lasts 6-12 months, and the virus itself also changes, as a result of which a person's immunity is less able to recognize it, explained Brigis.

The expert pointed out that currently the common opinion throughout Europe is that the primary attention in the context of the...