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Repeated Covid infection boosting your immunity? Nah! Instead, can raise long Covid risk: WHO

This warning by the Special Envoy of the World Health Organisation comes amidst the buildup of a belief among people that exposure to previous COVID-19 infections will enhance their ability to fight future variants of the coronavirus.

IANS

Updated Jul 1, 2022, 00:49 IST

Do not take COVID-19 infections lightly. Try to avert infection. Old infection no guarantee against future variants of fast-evolving virus, warns Special Envoy of the WHO.

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The theory that prior Covid infections boost up people's immunity levels, helping them to fight future variants may not be so true, as per a World Health Organisation (WHO) official.

According to David Nabarro, WHO's Special Envoy for Covid-19, repeated Covid infection may instead increase people's risk of long Covid.

"Having Covid multiple times does not build up resistance or immunity because the virus is always changing," Nabarro was quoted as saying to Sky News. It is more likely to increase your chances of getting long Covid.

"The more times you get it, the more likely you are to be unlucky and end up with long Covid -- which is the thing that none of us wants because it can be so serious.

"It can knock people off their stride for several months," Nabarro said.

Long Covid is defined as having new or ongoing symptoms four weeks or more after the start of the disease. Symptoms include fatigue, shortness of breath, loss of concentration, and joint pain. The symptoms can adversely affect day-to-day activities, and in some cases can be severely limiting. It can linger for months and years after infection.

Earlier Nabarro said Covid has now become an "inconvenience" for most people rather than "life-threatening".

He expressed concerns for the elderly and those with health conditions, as well as the unvaccinated, as they "are going to be badly affected".

"I'm not worried for the world in that I really do believe that a lot has been learnt and at the same time the virus is evolving," Nabarro said.

"But I am worried for individuals who may be at risk because they are in the older age group or have other conditions that mean they are likely to get severely ill.

"I am worried for people who decided not to be vaccinated because I think their risks are greater as well."

The current rise in global infections is due to the Omicron variants BA.4 and BA.5.

Nabarro said that the strains are capable of "dodging past the protection" from vaccines. He urged people to be "responsible" and continue to wear masks and social distance "to protect others" - as Covid cases continue to surge, the report said.

(This is a newswire copy. Nothing except the headline has been changed by Times now.)

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