How have COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns affected our immune systems?
I n this we look at what effect living physically distanced from other people might have on the immune systems of adults, children, and infants born during the pandemic. Some people have voiced concerns over whether their immune systems are being challenged, given that the general public is no longer physically mixing. Might our immune systems consequently “forget” how to fight off disease-causing agents? For adults and older children, there is some good news: This is not how immunity works. According to MIT Medical , by the time a person reaches adulthood, their immune system has already had exposure to plenty of bacteria and viruses and is able to mount an attack against these invaders. Because of this, the immune system has already learned how to destroy these microbes and will not forget, even in the wake of long-term lockdowns. But what about younger children, whose immune systems are still in the learning phase?