Catching a cold ‘boosts your immunity against Covid’

CATCHING a cold boosts your Covid immunity, a study has revealed.

Fighting off sniffles caused by other coronaviruses can train the immune system to tackle the deadly Covid bug.

Imperial College London scientists found getting common coughs and sneezes boosts vital white blood cells called T cells, which can recognise a range of viruses.

Dr Rhia Kundu said: “We found that high levels of pre-existing T cells, created by the body when infected with other coronaviruses, can protect against Covid infection.

“This is an important discovery but it is only one form of protection and no-one should rely on this alone. 

“The best way to protect yourself against Covid is to be fully vaccinated, including getting your booster dose.”

The study looked at a group of 52 people living with people with Covid – but only half of them got infected.

Blood tests showed the 26 who avoided infection had higher levels of T cells from catching other coronaviruses in the past.

There are at least four other types of coronavirus that regularly infect humans and they cause around one in five colds.

The Imperial College study shows that coronaviruses all look so similar to the body that T cells – which destroy infected cells – made for one bug will work against others.