The new variant – Delta – has spread to more than 70 countries, and people are scared. There are two ways in which you can develop immunity: you get infected by the virus, or you get vaccinated. Either way, this does not mean you’re getting full protection. The immunity is different from vaccine to infection, meaning it can differ in strength or length of time that protection lasts. And, of course, not everyone will get the same level of immunity.
When it comes to the new variants, it seems that you are getting more protection from the vaccine. A study has been published which shows that the COVID-19 vaccines come with a great immune response against the new variants.
They have studied how antibodies reach the new variants of the virus, and they have learned that those people previously infected with the virus might be susceptible to the new strains. Those vaccinated are more likely to be protected.
The COVID-19 vaccination is safe and reliable, and it can protect you from older and new strains of the virus – especially the Delta variant.
As a general rule, you get immunity if your immune system remembers the infection. The body knows how to fight it if it encounters it again. Antibodies are proteins that can bind to a virus and then prevent the infection. T cells are the ones who help in removing the infected cells bound to the antibodies.
So after you get infected, the T cells can give you the protection you need if you get re-infected. 91% of the people who got infected with the original strain were unlikely to be infected against for another eight months.
People with no symptoms can also develop immunity, with fewer antibodies than those who felt ill.
