Ever since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, I’ve wondered whether lasting immunity to the virus is possible. We are all living through a nightmare right now, longing for a return to normal life.
The impact has been devastating on so many levels: lives lost, families grieving loved ones taken too soon, people left without jobs or income and many others living in constant fear of infection and the psychological toll that comes with it.
For now, there is some good news. As I will show with the evidence in this post, nine months after my illness, I still have coronavirus antibodies. The question is — how long will they last?
Let’s start with a quick recap of the year’s events.
BEGINNING OF THE EPIDEMIC AND MY ILLNESS
By now, we all know the epidemic began in China, where the government initially suppressed crucial information about the seriousness of this new illness. Back in January, even as the outbreak spread rapidly across the country, authorities allowed millions to travel freely for the Chinese New Year, both domestically and internationally.
I fell ill in March 2020. At that time, the UK Conservative government was promoting the concept of “herd immunity,” despite lacking scientific evidence and having already seen the catastrophic consequences unfolding elsewhere. Their inaction made it seem as though widespread infection was an acceptable trade-off, with little regard for the lives that would inevitably be lost. To them, it appeared to be collateral damage in the effort to protect large corporations and the banking industry. Sadly, this has long been a hallmark of the Tory party, a lack of real concern for ordinary people like you and me.
I wrote about my experience in a post titled “How I Survived the Coronavirus Infection.” I encourage you to read it to understand what happened to me and what could happen to you as the virus continues to spread. Make no mistake – sooner or later, almost everyone will encounter it. It’s only a matter of time.
TRAVEL TO BELGRADE
After successfully battling the virus, I decided to travel to Belgrade. One reason for the trip was to get some dental work done, but the more important reason was my awareness that the coronavirus situation in the UK would likely remain persistently bad. You simply can’t beat the virus when the government is as incompetent as it currently is in the UK.
Besides, after everything that had happened, I needed a change of scenery. You can read more about that period in my life in the post “The Journey Continues – Life After the Coronavirus Epidemic.”
While in Belgrade, I decided to take a coronavirus antibody test to confirm whether I really had the virus back in March and to check if I had developed immunity. Antibody tests only became available in the UK around June 2020, at an extortionate cost of £200 per test. A price I was never willing to pay. Honestly, no one should pay that much, since antibody tests are actually quite inexpensive.
MY FIRST CORONAVIRUS ANTIBODY TEST
I arrived in Belgrade on July 10th. At that time, antibody testing had only just started in Serbia, so it took me a little while to find a laboratory where I could get tested.
I took my first antibody test on the 27th July 2020, about four months after my infection in March.
As shown in the photo below, the result was “reactive,” with a value of 11.83. Any result above 1 indicates the presence of antibodies, which generally suggests immunity.
The presence of IgM antibodies alone points to an active infection. However, if both IgM and IgG or just IgG antibodies are present, it means there is no active infection and you have protection. For coronavirus immunity, it’s the IgG antibodies that matter most.
I was very happy with the result. It confirmed that I had indeed had coronavirus in March and that I was immune.
MY SECOND CORONAVIRUS ANTIBODY TEST
I knew that, after some time, I would need to take another antibody test to check whether my coronavirus immunity had persisted.
I had read many articles on the subject and most carried the same unsettling message – antibodies don’t last long. It was a frightening thought.
So, on the 2nd November 2020, I took my second test. I received the result within four hours. According to it, I no longer had antibodies. I was shocked. But I immediately noticed that the laboratory had used a different IHR testing method. When I arrived at reception and registered for the test, I specifically asked whether they would use the same method as before. They reviewed my previous result and assured me it would be the exact same ECLIA method.
Concerned, I sent them an email asking if using a different method could lead to a different result.
MY REPEATED SECOND CORONAVIRUS ANTIBODY TEST
In response to my email, the laboratory called me back and explained that there was indeed a difference between the two tests. The first one was more sensitive and capable of detecting antibodies at much lower levels.
They arranged to repeat the test using the same blood sample they had already taken. As you can see in the photo below, the repeated test confirmed that I still have antibodies, although at a lower level compared to the test that I took three months ago.
Nevertheless, this means that I am still immune, which is excellent news. It’s reassuring to know that if I come into contact with the virus again, my immune system will hopefully be able to fight it off successfully.
FIRST UPDATE ON MY CORONAVIRUS IMMUNITY
I took my most recent coronavirus antibody test on the 28th December 2020, at the same laboratory, using the exact same method as before. This was roughly nine months after my illness in March 2020. You can see the latest result in the photo below.
To my surprise, my antibody levels were actually higher than during the previous test. I had expected them to decline over time, not increase.
Curious about this unexpected result, I returned to the laboratory and spoke with one of the technicians. I asked if there might have been an error in the calculation, but she assured me that the tests are fully automated and processed by a verified computer program, making mistakes highly unlikely.
She explained that what might have happened is that I was re-infected with the coronavirus but, because I already had antibodies, I didn’t get sick. Instead, my immune system quickly produced additional antibodies and cleared the virus without me ever noticing.
I’m not a medical professional, so I can’t say for sure if this is exactly what happened. But if true, it suggests that people with natural immunity, when re-exposed, can fight off the virus without issue and even strengthen their immunity in the process.
It’s all very interesting, especially as we are still learning about this novel disease. Perhaps, people like me might not even need a vaccine. After all, what’s the point of getting vaccinated if you already have antibodies?
SECOND UPDATE ON MY CORONAVIRUS IMMUNITY
Unfortunately, there isn’t much to report. Antibody testing in the UK is still not available. It seems that the government and NHS have little interest in studying natural coronavirus immunity. Vaccines continue to be promoted relentlessly, despite ongoing questions about their safety and long-term effectiveness.
A free NHS antibody test is only available if you’re enrolled in a research study, but not everyone qualifies. Otherwise, private laboratories offer the same tests that I had in Belgrade, but at an eye-watering cost of £120, compared to just £16 there. I can’t justify paying that amount for the same test here in the UK.
So, more than a year after my last test in Belgrade, I still don’t know whether I have coronavirus antibodies or if my immunity persists. That said, I believe I’m fine. It’s been exactly two years since I fell ill in March 2020 and I have remained perfectly healthy. I have even been in contact with many people who had COVID, yet nothing happened. I am still healthy.
THIRD UPDATE ON MY CORONAVIRUS IMMUNITY
I have decided to stop coronavirus testing altogether. By now, it’s clear to me that I will never be reinfected with the virus. I believe this is true for everyone with natural immunity. I’m less certain about vaccinated individuals, as everyone I know who has been vaccinated has experienced repeated bouts of COVID. My natural immunity remains strong and I’m very grateful for that.
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