I've been bothered by the antibody discussion from both news media and science outlets from the beginning. This in particular is an area where words matter. From the beginning people that should know better were spreading fear about antibodies not lasting long enough to be meaningful based on early research. Any one with a slight background in this area of science should know a few basic facts:Who would have ever thought.........
Mild coronavirus infection leaves behind lasting antibody protection, research suggests
https://www.foxnews.com/health/mild-coronavirus-infection-lasting-antibody-protection-research
1) Circulating antibodies DON'T last forever, or generally even all that long.
2) Different immune cells DO store a memory of an infectious agent and instructions to produce specific antibody if the agent is encountered again
3) These immune cells DO last, most likely, forever...for any infectious agent that antibodies are initially produced for
4) The problem isn't whether the body will be able to recall an infectious agent and produce an immune response, but whether or not it will be able to produce a sufficient immune response at a given point in the future
Number 4 is really the only variable of significant consequence moving forward in my opinion.
ETA: Variants may also play a factor of course. Memory immune cells are another selective pressure on variants.