A study published August 25 shows that a previous infection with SARS-CoV-2 provides 13 times stronger immunity to the Delta Variant than do any of the vaccines currently available.
This study demonstrated that natural immunity confers longer lasting and stronger protection against infection, symptomatic disease and hospitalization caused by the Delta variant of SARS-CoV-2, compared to the BNT162b2 two-dose vaccine-induced immunity. Individuals who were both previously infected with SARS-CoV-2 and given a single dose of the vaccine gained additional protection against the Delta variant.
The research took place in Israel, one of the most vaccinated countries in the world. The results also show that administering a vaccine to those previously infected provided an observable, but not statistically significant benefit, bringing into question the necessity of two doses — or any doses — of the mRNA vaccines for those already immune.
Previous infection appears to provide more durable B and T-cell memory due to the immune system being exposed to the entire virus, rather than just the spike protein that the vaccines introduce to the body.
The study has yet to be peer-reviewed, but the findings are consistent with previous studies as well as public heath data. In July Israeli public health data showed only 72 reinfections among the 850,000 who had already had Covid.
The CDC still recommends full vaccination (2 mRNA doses), even for the already infected, while other countries, including Israel, Italy, France, and Germany, recommend one dose for those who have already had the disease.
At The Hill, Kim Iversen points out that this is typical of how we have treated vaccine campaigns in the past. For chickenpox, measles, polio, and even smallpox, the previously infected were excluded from vaccine mandates. She asks then, why after a century of sound science showing that previous viral infection provides robust future immunity, are we now throwing this scientific truth aside? Other countries allow exemptions from vaccine mandates if an individual can provide antibody tests showing proof of immunity via prior infection. But in the United States, politicians, the media, employers, and businesses are taking a vaccine-only approach, even if doctors are advising their patients not to get a vaccine that is scientifically unnecessary.
Twitter and CNN have labeled any claim of immunity from past infection as scientifically inaccurate, citing the CDC’s position, even though references to other viruses on the CDC website contradict this position.
More than a third of the US population has recovered from Covid, meaning there is little-to-no need to waste vaccines on them, especially when poorer countries have only a small percentage of their populations vaccinated. If heard immunity is the goal, then over-vaccinating one segment of the population is, by definition, at the expense of another segment.
Some scientists fear that people may attempt to intentionally infect themselves in order to gain immunity without a vaccine. If this is the sole reason behind the “only vaccines work" campaign, then it is an attempt to cater to the lowest common denominator, and it is likely to induce more vaccine hesitancy and skepticism.