Majority of Americans Have Had COVID, 75% of Children

Have you ever had COVID? You’re in good company – more than half of the country, according to Centers for Disease Control data published Wednesday. From December to February, “seroprevalence” among adults, meaning the amount of people who have acquired antibodies from infection, rose from 33% , to 57%. Children and adolescents are even more likely to have fought off the infection, with three quarters of minors having tested positive at some point.

But the real numbers, suggests the CDC, may be higher. Many people don’t get tested, are asymptomatic, or use non-reported home tests. Additionally, Infections following vaccinations sometimes have lower markers, called “anti-N titers”, that might not turn up in tests.

The report cautioned that the CDC does not believe that protection from antibodies produced from prior infection should take the place of vaccination.

” Seropositivity for anti-N antibodies should not be interpreted as protection from future infection.” The report said. “Vaccination remains the safest strategy for preventing complications from SARS-CoV-2 infection, including hospitalization among children and adults “