As Covid-19 ravages through the population, the latest buzz word around town is immunity and the bounties that it promises. There is talk of "immunity passports" which, based on antibody tests, will enable the positive ones to re-join society, keeping the negative ones sequestered for the safety of all.

Attractive as this may sound, there are several scientific and ethical reasons why this concept is problematic for society.

With regards to this particular virus, there is still uncertainty regarding the relationship between antibody response and clinical improvement. The findings from a small study of nine patients with Covid-19 found that greater clinical severity produced higher antibody titres. However, antibody detection and higher titres have not always been found to correlate with clinical improvement in Covid-19.

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