waning immunity
Declining disease resistance
Waning immunity is the gradual decline in protection against a disease after vaccination or infection.
Antibody levels naturally decrease over time, leaving people more susceptible to reinfection: Booster shots address waning immunity.
The term gained wide currency during COVID-19 discussions about vaccine effectiveness and the timing of additional doses.
- fadingGradual loss of intensity
- antibodiesProteins targeting pathogens
- boosterSomething that increases strength
- booster shotSubsequent dose strengthening immunity
- vaccinesPreparations conferring immunity
protection · decline · vulnerable · titers · exposure · weakening · susceptible · diminishing · infection · resurgence · breakthrough · breakthrough infection · cells · memory · response · shield · erosion · seasonal
- vaccinationvaccine, vaccines, shot, shots, inoculation
immune, immunize, immunized, immunization, immunology, immunological, immunologist, immunizing, autoimmune