Research Suggests Common Cold May Offer Temporary Protection Against COVID-19

Recent research conducted by scientists at National Jewish Health indicates that experiencing a common cold, predominantly caused by rhinoviruses, may provide temporary immunity against SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for COVID-19. The study sheds light on potential reasons why children tend to have milder COVID-19 symptoms compared to adults and opens avenues for developing new preventive strategies.

Published in the Journal of Infectious Diseases, the study analyzed data from the nationwide HEROS project, which followed over 4,100 individuals across 1,394 households from May 2020 to February 2021. The findings revealed that individuals, especially children, who had a recent rhinovirus infection were significantly less likely to contract SARS-CoV-2 in subsequent weeks. This protective effect is believed to be linked to the body's antiviral defenses, notably the interferon response triggered by rhinoviruses, which temporarily 'primes' the immune system.

Senior author Max Seibold, Ph.D., emphasized that this immune boost from a common cold could give the body an early advantage in combating SARS-CoV-2. The research further found that children tend to have higher baseline levels of interferon-related genes, which play a crucial role in the immune response. This phenomenon, known as heterologous viral interference, had been observed with other respiratory viruses and is now being shown to potentially impact COVID-19 susceptibility.

Importantly, experts warn that this does not suggest people should aim to catch colds intentionally. Instead, understanding how viral infections influence immune responses could aid in developing new preventative measures, especially for vulnerable populations. The study's collaborative effort across 12 U.S. cities underscores the significance of this discovery in public health.

While the research provides promising insights, further studies are needed to explore how these immune mechanisms can be harnessed for broader protection. Overall, the findings contribute to explaining the lower severity and incidence of COVID-19 among children and suggest that recent viral exposures and immune differences play pivotal roles.

Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-08-common-cold-covid.html