Dr Nick Coatsworth explains why some Aussies won’t catch Covid

While it may appear some people are prodigious at dodging the virus, one of Australia’s top doctors says there’s a more likely answer.

After two years of living in a pandemic, the myth of that ‘one friend who’s seemingly evaded Covid’ has circulated group chats and conversation.

Perhaps they’ve been a close contact multiple times but escaped without infection, or they’ve been stuck in the same household as a positive case and yet managed to avoid the virus.

According to medical expert Dr Nick Coatsworth, however, the most likely answer is not that they’re immune but potentially had Covid and were asymptomatic.

“Some people are actually getting Covid but they’re not getting any symptoms from it,” he told Today hosts Ally Langdon and David Campbell.

“The other possibility is that it just didn’t transmit within the household, for whatever reason, although that tends to be a bit unusual.

“And the final possibility is maybe there is something about certain individuals that protects them. I doubt that’s a big possibility.”

Vaccines and booster doses is one of the few ways people can protect themselves from Covid. Picture: Channel 9.

The infectious disease physician and a Senior Medical Adviser with the Department of Health also said the only way for people to avoid Covid is to get vaccinated and boosted.

“I think the most important thing, of course, for protection is vaccination,” he added.

“If you’re vaccinated, that’s when you’re not going to get Covid.”

However, when asked how long people who have contracted Covid should wait to get their booster shot, Dr Coatsworth admitted that the medical advice varied, saying that there wouldn’t be “any harm in getting it in about four to five weeks afterwards”.

“I don’t even think ATAGI has got solid advice on this,” he said.

“You will get immunity for a period after acquiring Covid-19 infection, so you certainly don’t need your booster straight away.”

While Dr Coatsworth admitted there isn’t ‘solid advice’ on when people who had Covid should get their booster, he said four to five weeks after infection wouldn’t do ‘any harm’. Picture: David Crosling/NCA NewsWire

A familiar face during the pandemic, Dr Coatsworth recently backtracked on his apparent stoush with The Project host, Lisa Wilkinson. After clashing over face mask mandates in December, Wilkinson shared her support of New Zealand’s recent rules to impose 24 days of isolation for household close contacts.

“Wowee – 24 days (in isolation)! If that doesn’t give you an indication that Jacinda Ardern has looked across the ditch at our bin fire and gone, ‘Not doing that!’ Wow!” she said on The Project.

In response, Dr Coatsworth retweeted several tweets aimed at Wilkinson, including one that read: “Lisa Wilkinson is more than welcome to isolate herself – I would suggest no outside contact so no media appearances – for 24 days, Indeed 24 days is not safe enough – make it 24 months”.

However, speaking to The Australian’s Media Diary, he admitted the retweets were done in a “moment of weakness”.

“It’s not ideal – I’ve got a pretty good relationship with The Project. I’m sort of trying to hose it down,” he said.

“I’ve got nothing against her personally. I just fell into the trap of saying it on Twitter.”

Sharing his thoughts on the presenter, Dr Coatsworth admitted that Wilkinson is “a good presenter, a good host – and she’s passionate about her views”.

Originally published as Dr Nick Coatsworth explains why some Aussies won’t catch Covid