In a new small-scale study led by researchers from Imperial College London in England, it was stated that people with higher T cell levels due to cold coronaviruses are less likely to be infected with SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19). Co-author of the study, Dr. Rhia Kundu said, “This is just a form of protection and I emphasize that no one should rely on it alone. “Instead, the best way to protect yourself against COVID-19 is to be fully vaccinated, including getting your booster dose.”
THE STUDY TAKED 28 DAYS
The study, the results of which were published in the journal Nature Communications, focused on 52 people who lived with a person newly infected with Covid-19 in September 2020 and had previously had a cold. During the 28-day study, half of the group caught Covid-19, while the other half did not.
It was found that one third of those who did not get Covid-19 had a high amount of T cells produced by the body’s immune system during a cold.
The researchers stated that other factors such as ventilation and the virus load in the dwelling may have also affected the rates of catching Covid-19, and nevertheless pointed out that the research contributes to understanding the functioning of the body’s immune system and is important for vaccine studies to be carried out.
Emphasizing that only 10 to 15 percent of cold cases are caused by coronaviruses, researchers noted that it would be a big mistake to think that not everyone who had a cold recently will catch Kovid-19.