Presumption: For a while now, there have been suggestions to implement an “immunity passport” for those who went through COVID-19. The “passport” maybe applied for once an antibody-test is positive. This is meant to indicate the person had COVID-19 and thus has acquired immunity towards the virus.
From a scientific as well as ethical point of view, this idea of an “immunity passport” is highly problematic.
We are focusing on three major aspects here:
- An antibody-test indicates if a person’s immune system had developed antibodies against SARS-CoV-2. Therefore, it indicates only the fact that this person had had contact with the virus. It does not prove a previous COVID-19 disease. The test does not give any information as to the neutralization quality of the antibodies (‘neutralization’ means they prevent a second infection with the same virus).
The presence of antibodies does not prove immunity.
Such an immunity would have to be tested by a targeted re-infection, which for good reasons is not feasible in Germany, a democratic country.
Remember: An HIV infection does lead to a whole array of antibodies, which do not protect the infected person, since they are not neutralizing antibodies.
To-date there is no hint to a long-lasting immunity against coronaviruses after an infection.
Thus, the question would be: How long should this document be valid?
2) This instrument has the potential to divide our society. It leads to discrimination.
Here are the “immune” people, there are those who “need to be careful”.
We do hope, the German Ethical Council will take a close look at this aspect.
3) Publicly, this could be misunderstood as a call for deliberate SARS-CoV-2 infections. Since many people still think they might go through a mild infection, people might take the risk and get infected on purpose.
This reminds us of the notorious measles parties, where children are being infected with measles virus intentionally. Because of the global death toll of 140,000 children dying of measles infections annually, we think such a measure is beyond reason!
We are strictly opposing the implementation of such a document because it will provide a false sense of safety, it will divide the society, it will lead to dangerous behavior.
Stay curious and stay alert,
Sabine and Joerg
Meet Sabine at XING: https://www.xing.com/profile/Sabine_Breun
Visit Joerg at LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/jörg-baumann-phd-0710b11a3