Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Crisis: Losing Our Immunity When We Need It the Most

SIMPLE SUMMARY: With the current coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) crisis, humans have developed new habits and adapted to a novel socioeconomic reality. Indeed, measures including confinement and lockdown have led to mental health problems, economic crisis, and social isolation, among other consequences. These consequences, along with hand washing, sanitization, and face masks, would reduce our immunity against infections, including COVID-19. Such reduced immunity could impact not only our vulnerability to diseases but also the efficacy of vaccines that carry the biggest hope to putting an end to this COVID-19 pandemic. Thus, there is a need to review these approaches and optimize measures taken to limit the spread of COVID-19 by taking into consideration the possible impact of these measures on our immunity to fight COVID-19. ABSTRACT: The ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) crisis has led to a new socioeconomic reality with the acquisition of novel habits. Measures imposed by governments and health authorities such as confinement and lockdown have had important consequences, including mental health problems, economic crisis, and social isolation. Combined with newly acquired habits such as hand washing, sanitization, and face masks, these have all directly and indirectly led to reduced immunity. Such effects on the immune system not only impact the epidemiological profile with respect to COVID-19 and other infectious diseases but also limit the efficacy of the ongoing anti-COVID-19 vaccination campaign. Therefore, there is a need to review these approaches and optimize measures towards better population immunity, which is much needed during such an epidemic.