Past COVID-19 infection may protect people against some common colds

A previous COVID-19 infection may lower your risk of getting a cold caused by a milder coronavirus cousin, according to new research.

Endemic coronaviruses are thought to be responsible for 15 to 30 per cent of common colds in adults.

Researchers found that people previously infected with COVID-19 had a 50 per cent lower chance of having a common cold caused by a coronavirus compared with people who were fully vaccinated and did not get COVID-19.

Researchers said the study may help in the development of future vaccines against COVID-19 that also protect against related coronaviruses.