In discussing the pros and cons of vaccination with patients, I keep hearing the issue of their previous infections and how they feel they are protected because of having had Covid already. Although there is some validity to their views, they are also quite mistaken when it comes to the degree and duration of their protection. Adding to the confusion and misinformation, there are talking heads out there, some with very respectable credentials, exaggerating the protection provided by “natural immunity”, that which is provided by being infected by the actual virus. One particular scientist recently reported that natural immunity provides 27x more protection than the protection provided by vaccination. This same scientist also claimed that the pandemic would be over by last April because of all the “undiagnosed” cases of Covid and herd immunity. So much for his predictive reliability. He also stated that “100s of studies” support his claims, but these 100s of studies simply don’t exists.Some do, but certainly not 100s. Although there are some studies showing improved immune response and protection to having had Covid, there are plenty of studies showing that vaccination provides more protection. The point is mute since you would be crazy to intentionally get infected with the virus just to “get it over with” and both means of protection, infection or vaccination, wane over time. In addition there is no “long-Covid” with vaccination whereas at least 10% (some studies find a much higher percentage, as high as 40%) of those infected with Covid, especially if not previously vaccinated, develop some kind of long-term symptoms, some quite nasty and life altering like brain fog, kidney failure, diabetes, heart problems not to mention lung scarring.
Vaccination can be also considered “natural” since our body is naturally reacting to a foreign molecule, in this case, the spike protein on the surface of the virus. The immune system does not care if that spike protein is on the virus or expressed on the surface of some of our own cells. It reacts just the same. To be clear, with the virus, we generate additional antibodies to other parts of the virus, but as mentioned above, that protection wanes as well.
The facts are clear that, infected, vaccinated or naive (no exposure to either the virus or vaccine), infection rates remain high. In Britain, 10% of present day infections are re-infections. The US has some of the highest numbers of infections, hospitalizations and deaths since all this started. The shock value of this pandemic has softened. We’re more interested in “moving on”.
The fact is also clear that the vast majority of hospitalizations and deaths are in unvaccinated people.
Just to be clear, there is a difference between vaccinated and fully vaccinated and fully protected. If you had Covid or were vaccinated more than 6 months ago and have not had a booster, in either case, your protection is significantly lower. It is lower in the Covid group than in the vaccinated group. The numbers are clear.
If you are FULLY vaccinated, meaning 2 doses within the last 6 months, or boosted if your last dose (single shot or double) was more than 6 months ago, then you are 87x less likely to be hospitalized if you get Covid and 97x less likely to die as compared with being unvaccinated, whether you had Covid in the past or not! Even if you are not fully vaccinated, you still have significant protection with 12x less chances of needing hospitalization as compared with unvaccinated people.
The vaccines also result in less contagiousness if you do get sick, meaning you spread less of the virus and for a shorter period of time.
Studies are also showing that boosting is very safe and effective in kids. As for the issue of myocarditis is concerned, it is really a non issue overall. Can it happen, yes. But the rates are less than background (meaning getting myocarditis from other vaccines or simple viral infections) and the myocarditis resulting from actually getting Covid is much more frequent and worse. In addition studies are showing that the rate with the booster is even less than the second shot.
Please continue to be careful out there and please get vaccinated. I know there is a lot of information and you can find support for whatever view you want. There are organizations still floating the idea that the world is flat and that Elvis is not really dead, but repeating a lie or crazy idea ad nauseum does not make it reality.
Stay Safe and Be Well.
AC