Our findings show that, while “early memory” CD8+ T cells can be detected in convalescent HLA-A*02:01 COVID-19 patients at frequencies approximately fivefold higher than those from prepandemic samples, the SARS-CoV-2−specific response was ∼10-fold lower than that found regularly for CD8+ T cells directed at IAV or EBV epitopes. Here, CD8A is linked to COVID-19.