<p>The World Health Organization is cautioning against the idea of “immunity passports." It says there is currently no evidence that people who have recovered from <a href="http://www.deccanherald.com/tag/coronavirus" target="_blank">COVID-19</a> and have antibodies are protected against a second infection.</p>.<p>The concept of “immunity passports” or “risk-free certificates” has been floated as a way of allowing people protected against reinfection to return to work.</p>.<p><strong><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/coronavirus-live-updates-with-60-new-cases-in-andhra-pradesh-indias-tally-climbs-to-23221-827545.html" target="_blank">Follow live developments on the coronavirus pandemic here</a></strong></p>.<p>But the Geneva-based UN health agency says in a scientific brief released Saturday that more research is needed. It says that “at this point in the pandemic, there is not enough evidence about the effectiveness of antibody-mediated immunity to guarantee the accuracy of an 'immunity passport' or 'risk-free certificate.'”</p>.<p>It argues that people who assume they are immune to reinfection may ignore public health advice, and such certificates could raise the risks of continued virus transmission.</p>.<p>WHO adds that tests for antibodies of the new coronavirus also “need further validation to determine their accuracy and reliability.”</p>
<p>The World Health Organization is cautioning against the idea of “immunity passports." It says there is currently no evidence that people who have recovered from <a href="http://www.deccanherald.com/tag/coronavirus" target="_blank">COVID-19</a> and have antibodies are protected against a second infection.</p>.<p>The concept of “immunity passports” or “risk-free certificates” has been floated as a way of allowing people protected against reinfection to return to work.</p>.<p><strong><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/coronavirus-live-updates-with-60-new-cases-in-andhra-pradesh-indias-tally-climbs-to-23221-827545.html" target="_blank">Follow live developments on the coronavirus pandemic here</a></strong></p>.<p>But the Geneva-based UN health agency says in a scientific brief released Saturday that more research is needed. It says that “at this point in the pandemic, there is not enough evidence about the effectiveness of antibody-mediated immunity to guarantee the accuracy of an 'immunity passport' or 'risk-free certificate.'”</p>.<p>It argues that people who assume they are immune to reinfection may ignore public health advice, and such certificates could raise the risks of continued virus transmission.</p>.<p>WHO adds that tests for antibodies of the new coronavirus also “need further validation to determine their accuracy and reliability.”</p>