Covid-19 immunity passports 'not a good idea' as antibodies 'only last a few months'

Photo: Courtesy

Since the coronavirus pandemic was declared back in March, one of the most highly debated topics has been the idea of immunity passports. The idea is that people who have tested positive for Covid-19 antibodies (indicating that they’ve previously been infected) could get a certificate enabling them to travel or return to work.

Now, virologist Professor Wendy Barclay from Imperial College London has warned that immunity passports are ‘not a good idea.’ Professor Barclay explained that the length of immunity varies hugely among coronavirus patients, meaning immunity passports may not be safe. Speaking to Times Radio she said: “This concept of a passport for immunity - at the moment it is not a good idea because individuals can vary quite a lot in the sort of quality of the antibody response they make.