The CDC (finally) admitted the science on natural immunity. What took so long?

Upon releasing new pandemic guidelines last week, CDC epidemiologist Greta Massetti explained to reporters what many have been saying for more than a year: both vaccines and prior infection offer protection from severe symptomatic Covid.

 The Immunity Debate Around Vaccine Policies

As the world grapples with the new Omicron variant of Covid-19, the role of immunity from prior infection has gained fresh significance. The Wall Street Journal's Denise Roland discusses with WSJ What's News host Peter Granitz why scientists are divided on whether country-specific vaccine rules should account for prior infection as well as vaccine-induced immunity.

 Why Is There Such Reluctance to Discuss Natural Immunity?

Why, from people who know better, is there so much interest in downplaying or erasing natural immunity? Is it because it’s hard to quantify how many people have natural immunity? Is it out of a mix of good intentions and worry, that discussing natural immunity would somehow discourage (“nudge,” in Fauci’s term) people from getting vaccines who otherwise would? Is it simple oversight, being so focused on vaccinations that they just plain forgot about natural immunity? Or is something else at work?

Natural Immunity vs. Vaccine-Acquired Immunity: Which Is Better?

Some people think that natural immunity—developed after infection—is preferable to vaccine-acquired immunity. Both types of immunity (natural and acquired) have pros and cons.

Please Don’t Try to Get Natural COVID Immunity by Getting Infected

New data shows that a previous COVID infection boosted immunity against the delta variant—but vaccines are still the best way to protect yourself.

The Power of Natural Immunity

Natural immunity is durable. Researchers from Washington University in St. Louis reported last month that 11 months after a mild infection immune cells were still capable of producing protective antibodies. The authors concluded that prior Covid infection induces a “robust” and “long-lived humoral immune response,” leading some scientists to suggest that natural immunity is probably lifelong. Because infection began months earlier than vaccination, we have more follow-up data on the duration of natural immunity than on vaccinated immunity.

'Natural immunity' to COVID has its limits

Many people likely believe that prior infection will protect them forever, but unfortunately, it will not.

Covid Natural Immunity vs Vaccine Immunity

There’s a lot of talk about “natural immunity” to Covid-19, and some people are refusing vaccination on the grounds that they’ve got this natural immunity thanks to a previous Covid-19 infection. In this episode we take a look at how infection and vaccination compare in terms of immunity, reinfection, and overall health risks and benefits.

COVID-19 natural immunity versus vaccination

If you've had COVID-19 before, does your natural immunity work better than a vaccine? The data is clear: Natural immunity is not better. The COVID-19 vaccines create more effective and longer-lasting immunity than natural immunity from infection.

Does Natural Immunity Protect Against the SARS-CoV-2 Variants, or Do I Still Need the Vaccine?

Why vaccination is crucial in the fight against the COVID-19 variants.

From Natural Immunity to Vaccinated, How Protected Are You From COVID-19?

The bottom line: The natural immunity that you get following infection isn't enough. Even if you've had COVID-19, it's important to get vaccinated once you've recovered.

Having SARS-CoV-2 once confers much greater immunity than a vaccine—but vaccination remains vital

The study demonstrates the power of the human immune system, but infectious disease experts emphasized that this vaccine and others for COVID-19 nonetheless remain highly protective against severe disease and death. And they caution that intentional infection among unvaccinated people would be extremely risky

Nearly half US might have ‘natural immunity’ from COVID-19, but infection brings high risks

It’s not possible to know exactly what percentage of the United States population has some level of natural immunity attributable to becoming infected without having been vaccinated. That’s because not all infections get recorded, since some people who were infected didn’t know it, or had symptoms but never got tested. Moreover, natural immunity is not absolute — protection decreases over time — and people who are unvaccinated and become infected are at a much higher risk of hospitalization or death.

New study indicates natural immunity offers greater protection from COVID-19 than vaccines

A new study published in the New England Journal of Medicine is backing up claims that natural immunity provides greater protection from COVID-19 infection than multiple vaccine doses.

Sorry, a Coronavirus Infection Might Not Be Enough to Protect You

Anyone who’d rather have COVID-19 than get vaccinated is taking two gambles: that immunity will stick around, and that symptoms won’t.

The High Cost of Disparaging Natural Immunity to Covid

Vaccines were wasted on those who didn’t need them, and people who posed no risk lost jobs.

The people with hidden immunity against Covid-19

While the latest research suggests that antibodies against Covid-19 could be lost in just three months, a new hope has appeared on the horizon: the enigmatic T cell.

We must stop ignoring natural immunity - it’s now long overdue!

There is now growing body of literature supporting the conclusion that natural immunity not only confers robust, durable, and high-level protection against COVID-19, but also better than vaccine induced immunity. Yet most scientific journals, media outlets, self-proclaimed health experts and public policy messaging continue to cast doubt. That doubt has real-world consequences, particularly for resource limited countries. We would like to review available data.

What Is “Natural Immunity”? And Why Should You Get the Vaccine Even if You Already Had COVID?

How immunity works and why you should get vaccinated—even if you had COVID.

Which protects you more against Covid – vaccination or prior infection?

For the Delta variant at least, the latest analysis suggests they are roughly equivalent

‘Natural Immunity’ From Covid Is Not Safer Than a Vaccine

What if you’ve already had Covid-19 — do you still need a vaccine? Experts tackle questions about vaccine immunity.