US, WASHINGTON (ORDO NEWS) — The World Health Organization has opposed the introduction of so-called “immune passports,” according to a statement on the WHO website.
The organization drew attention to the fact that some governments have suggested that the detection of antibodies to the SARS-CoV-2 virus could be the basis for an “immune passport” or “certificate of absence of risk” – and this would allow people to travel or return to work , as they will be protected from reinfection.
“Now there is no evidence that people who have had COVID-19 and have antibodies are protected from reinfection,” WHO emphasizes.
The organization recalled that the development of immunity to a pathogen through a natural infection is a multi-step process that usually occurs within one to two weeks.
Most studies suggest that people who recover from an infection get antibodies to the new virus. However, there are as yet no reliable estimates of whether the presence of antibodies to the SARS-CoV-2 virus confers immunity to COVID-19.
In addition, tests to detect antibodies to COVID-19 need further testing to determine their accuracy and reliability. Inaccurate tests may either fail to detect the virus in the infected or mark infectious people who do not have the virus. The WHO emphasizes that both of these errors can have serious consequences in the fight against coronavirus infection.
“There is not enough evidence of the effectiveness of immunity through the development of antibodies that would guarantee the accuracy of an“ immune passport “or” certificate of absence of risk. “People who believe that they are immune to reinfection because they have a positive antibody test can ignore the guidelines in public health. Thus, the use of such certificates may increase the risk of continued spread of the virus,” concluded the organization.
A pandemic of coronavirus infection COVID-19 has spread across almost the entire world. According to the latest WHO data , more than 2.6 million people were infected, 182 thousand died.
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