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Immunity from coronavirus after infection ‘likely’ but ‘not guaranteed’
“We had a paper prepared by the chief scientists and their on-balance judgement is it is likely to (provide immunity),” Mr Hunt told Today.
“It is not a guarantee. There is global research being done but their on-balance judgement is you are likely to have immunity.”
There has been wide reporting of cases where COVID-19 has been contracted a second time, but Mr Hunt said this was unlikely.
“The case where it looks like somebody has caught it for a second time are more likely where there was a false clearance.
“So there is more global work but that’s the best scientific advice.
“The PM and I asked exactly that question of the chief scientists and he commissioned the best advice that you are unlikely to catch it again.”
Mr Hunt has cautioned against prospective antibody tests – which have recently been rolled out across some areas of the US- but said Australia does have a store of these kits ready to use when they are satisfied they are accurate.
These blood-spot tests are designed to indicate if people may have built up an immunity to coronavirus but Mr Hunt questioned their accuracy.
“We are cautious of that,” he said.
“That is another question to the Academy of Science via the chief scientist. There are a number of cases where it has been used but not accurate.
“There may be a role but we want to make sure that it is safe and accurate before we proceed to it.
“We actually have a store of test kits. We’ve purchased 1.5 million test kits in the events that it is successful.
“We have them. We have them in the country. We won’t use them unless we have categorical scientist advice.”
Source: 9News
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