Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to understand the retention of antibodies in people who have contracted covid-19.

There are several studies currently looking at immunity to COVID-19, including the retention of antibodies conferred by prior infection. These include the SIREN study, the Easter6 project and the Vivaldi study. Since June 2020, the SIREN study has assessed protection granted by prior infection and vaccination in a large cohort of healthcare workers, through serial antibody and swab testing. The study aims to determine whether the presence of antibodies is associated with a reduction in the subsequent risk of re-infection.

The Easter6 study and the Vivaldi study are reviewing data from care homes in London and England. Antibody tests have been repeated over time to learn how COVID-19 spreads in care homes, how long the antibody response lasts and whether this helps to prevent re-infection with the virus.