# Immunity after getting COVID should fulfill vaccine requirements **URL:** \ **Category:** The Quarantine Zone\ **Tags:** covid-quarantine\ **Created:** [January 23, 2022, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/immunity-after-getting-covid-should-fulfill-vaccine-requirements/958258 "2022-01-23T03:25:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 13
**Author:** ![Tfletch1](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tfletch1/32/5340_2.png) [@Tfletch1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tfletch1)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2022, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/immunity-after-getting-covid-should-fulfill-vaccine-requirements/958258/241 "2022-01-27T15:30:03Z")
> [@Novelty\_Bobble](#): > > Should a single case of infection be considered as a substitute to a single vaccination _as part of a full course_ ? possibly. Certainly that is the way it is managed in many European countries. Now THIS I could get behind. ---
**Author:** ![Monocracy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monocracy/32/4493_2.png) [@Monocracy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monocracy)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2022, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/immunity-after-getting-covid-should-fulfill-vaccine-requirements/958258/242 "2022-01-27T16:47:33Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > I think Walensky misspoke (and not for the first time). > > Covid vaccination _does_ lower the risk of transmission. No kidding. She’s just plain wrong. She can mean either one of two things, and both are wrong. Either she’s saying that vaccines cannot completely stop transmission anymore, which is wrong because the covid vacines were NEVER able to completely stop transmission. Pfizer and Moderna were 90% effective against “wild type”, not 100%. Or she’s saying that vaccines cannot even make transmission of Omicron less likely, which is wrong based on real world data. For instance, California’s state dashboard says, “From January 3, 2022 to January 9, 2022, unvaccinated people were **4.1 times more likely** to get COVID-19 than fully vaccinated people.” She’s wrong. I don’t know why she’s giving fodder to anti-vaxxers. California cite: [https://covid19.ca.gov/state-dashboard/](https://covid19.ca.gov/state-dashboard/) ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2022, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/immunity-after-getting-covid-should-fulfill-vaccine-requirements/958258/243 "2022-01-27T16:48:32Z")
Me too. An infection plus a dose. Or infection + dose + booster. Either is much more defend-able than infection is equivalent to being vaccinated. ---
**Author:** ![Tfletch1](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tfletch1/32/5340_2.png) [@Tfletch1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tfletch1)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2022, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/immunity-after-getting-covid-should-fulfill-vaccine-requirements/958258/244 "2022-01-27T17:08:49Z")
Or two doses + infection ~ boosted. I’d even get behind someone who was infected twice because they does tend to decrease the variability in immunity due to severity of infection. As long as we insist of lab-based or doctor office tests because I don’t trust the anti-vaxxers. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2022, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/immunity-after-getting-covid-should-fulfill-vaccine-requirements/958258/245 "2022-01-27T17:49:25Z")
> [@Tfletch1](#): > > As long as we insist of lab-based or doctor office tests because I don’t trust the anti-vaxxers. Exactly. My default assumption is that an anti-vaxxer is lying. I’ve heard far too many “Oh, I had covid already because I had the sniffles, and covid is just like a cold.” Tested? No. Just their ill-informed opinion, based on “feelings” ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2022, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/immunity-after-getting-covid-should-fulfill-vaccine-requirements/958258/246 "2022-01-27T18:08:12Z")
It seems that the Czech Republic has taken the OP’s advice. You get a “COVID pass” if you’ve recovered from it. Vaccination rates are only around 50% either because of vaccine hesitancy or lack of supply. So inevitably … > **[Son says mom died from intentional Covid-19 infection | CNN](https://www.cnn.com/videos/health/2022/01/20/czech-singer-deliberate-covid-infection-son-intvw-nr-kinkade-vpx.cnn)** > > A Czech folk singer who was opposed to getting a Covid-19 vaccine has died after deliberately contracting the virus, according to her son. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2022, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/immunity-after-getting-covid-should-fulfill-vaccine-requirements/958258/247 "2022-01-27T18:14:41Z")
See post #96 ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2022, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/immunity-after-getting-covid-should-fulfill-vaccine-requirements/958258/248 "2022-01-27T18:18:34Z")
Sorry, I missed that! 😳 ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2022, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/immunity-after-getting-covid-should-fulfill-vaccine-requirements/958258/249 "2022-01-27T18:26:30Z")
> [@Tfletch1](#): > > > [@Novelty\_Bobble](#): > > > > Should a single case of infection be considered as a substitute to a single vaccination _as part of a full course_ ? possibly. Certainly that is the way it is managed in many European countries. > > Now THIS I could get behind. This is basically what I’ve been arguing for. Keep track of documented infections and count them with vaccines towards whatever level of immunity is being mandated. Of course we shouldn’t count “i had a cold last month and i think it was covid”. And i think we should all be trying to get boosted, although many guidelines still accept two doses of vaccine. ---
**Author:** ![Tfletch1](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tfletch1/32/5340_2.png) [@Tfletch1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tfletch1)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2022, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/immunity-after-getting-covid-should-fulfill-vaccine-requirements/958258/250 "2022-01-27T18:37:59Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > Exactly. My default assumption is that an anti-vaxxer is lying. I’ve heard far too many “Oh, I had covid already because I had the sniffles, and covid is just like a cold.” Tested? No. Just their ill-informed opinion, based on “feelings” I wouldn’t even trust a picture of a home test result. ---
**Author:** ![Tfletch1](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tfletch1/32/5340_2.png) [@Tfletch1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tfletch1)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2022, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/immunity-after-getting-covid-should-fulfill-vaccine-requirements/958258/251 "2022-01-27T18:45:56Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > This is basically what I’ve been arguing for. Keep track of documented infections and count them with vaccines towards whatever level of immunity is being mandated. Ooooh. I thought you were arguing for one infection = two doses of mRNA or whatever. But an infection + one dose would probably be okay. Of course, eventually a booster will probably be required for places that mandate vaccines. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2022, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/immunity-after-getting-covid-should-fulfill-vaccine-requirements/958258/252 "2022-01-27T18:53:25Z")
I’m arguing one documented infection should count as whatever the science says it’s equivalent to, realizing that the science will change over time, both as our understanding deepens and as the variants change. I think I said above that my understanding is that an infection is ~ a J&J shot. And while many places still count that as “fully vaccinated”, the medical advice from the CDC was not “you may get a booster” but “you really ought to get a booster” for folks with J&J. ---
**Author:** ![Bill\_Door](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@Bill\_Door](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bill_Door)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2022, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/immunity-after-getting-covid-should-fulfill-vaccine-requirements/958258/253 "2022-01-27T18:53:59Z")
No COVID vaccine that had the side effects of a case of catching COVID would ever be approved by the FDA; therefore, it should not be considered as an acceptable alternative to a vaccine. ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2022, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/immunity-after-getting-covid-should-fulfill-vaccine-requirements/958258/254 "2022-01-27T21:31:34Z")
I don’t see that that logic holds. If it is a provable fact that an infection conveys equivalent protection to that of a single vaccine jab then there seems little point in not recognising that fact. It should never be considered as a _recommended course of action_ as an alternative to a jab but I see little harm in acknowleding the protective benefit that an unwitting infection may confer. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2022, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/immunity-after-getting-covid-should-fulfill-vaccine-requirements/958258/255 "2022-01-27T22:54:03Z")
I agree with @Novelty_Bobble . Of COURSE no medical authority would recommend catching covid. The risks are far too high. Even for the young and healthy, the risks of catching covid are far higher than the risks of vaccination, and of course anyone who catches it can give it to others. That doesn’t mean we can’t recognize that having recovered from covid means you likely developed some degree of immunity. Also, two points: 1. there have been contagious vaccines. The live polio vaccine could be spread to others, and while that was usually harmless, my understanding is that it rarely mutated into a more dangerous form of polio. I think it’s no longer given in countries that have eradicated polio for that reason. 2. the covid vaccine doesn’t confer exactly the same degree of immunity to everyone who gets it, either. If you look at the studies, you typically see a wide spread of dots, along with a median and some standard deviation bars. My mom, who was severely immunocompromised, appears to have developed no immunity from the vaccine. Some people get very high degrees of immunity from vaccination. Nothing in medicine is uniform and completely predictable across a population. Is immunity from an infection more variable than from vaccination? Not that i know of. If studies show it is far more variable, that’s a reason to not accept it as evidence of immunity. But having actually recovered is pretty decent evidence of having mounted an immune response. So i would presume the “low end” of immunity from infection isn’t worse than from vaccination until i saw evidence to the contrary. ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2022, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/immunity-after-getting-covid-should-fulfill-vaccine-requirements/958258/256 "2022-01-28T16:03:39Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > Alright. I know a lot of people who got vaccinated, had an unpleasant reaction, and don’t want to get a booster shot because they don’t want to go through that again, and maybe they have a bunch of friends who had mild cases of covid that were less unpleasant than their own vaccine reactions. It’s impossible not to observe how this perspective is focused on _me, me, me_ and not that the other purpose of the vaccine is to blunt the impact to society at large. You may not care if you get sick for a few days for something that you hope is mild. But you would be very unhappy if your child fell off a ladder, broke a leg (or worse), and couldn’t be seen at the ER because it was full of COVID patients. > [@puzzlegal](#): > > And quite a lot of them caught omicron. I call them moderate anti vaxxers. And i don’t think those who have recovered from Omicron need to run out and get another booster. And they know it was Omicron how, exactly? Did a doctor tell them, or do they have access to a lab or test kit that differentiates strains? Omicron isn’t dominant everywhere, there are still multiple strains circulating. It’s just so _interesting_ how anti-vaxxers seem to be in possession of otherwise unknown bits of information that inevitably add up to the fact that they don’t have to do things they don’t want to do. Funny how it always shakes out like that. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2022, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/immunity-after-getting-covid-should-fulfill-vaccine-requirements/958258/257 "2022-01-28T16:18:23Z")
> [@HMS\_Irruncible](#): > > And they know it was Omicron how, exactly? Did a doctor tell them, or do they have access to a lab or test kit that differentiates strains? Omicron isn’t dominant everywhere, there are still multiple strains circulating. In my state, they are saying that 99.4% of all infections are currently omicron. And vaccination is much more effective against delta than omicron, so a vaccinated person who catches covid is more likely to get omicron even if it isn’t totally dominant in their geographic area. So I assumed omicron. No one has told me “I got omicron”. Why would I even care? And I find it odd that you are accusing me of saying “me, me, me”. I have not caught covid. I have taken fairly extreme precautions to avoid both catching and spreading it, including getting every vax I’ve been eligible for as soon as I could, and wearing a high-quality mask on the rare occasions I’ve left the house in the past 2 years. I’ve also personally nudged a lot of people to get boosters, when the FDA was waffling on who “needed” it. Because “full vaccination” is not enough to significantly reduce the spread of omicron, but a booster really does reduce the risk you will catch it and spread it. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2022, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/immunity-after-getting-covid-should-fulfill-vaccine-requirements/958258/258 "2022-01-28T19:25:27Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > And I find it odd that you are accusing me of saying “me, me, me”. I don’t think anyone is accusing _you_ of saying “me, me, me”. You’re certainly not like this at all. But your arguments are giving a lot of cover to those who ARE saying “me, me, me”. Cover to those who are coming up with any excuse they can grab onto to avoid a getting a reasonable medical vaccine. Basically, they are “I don’t wanna, and here’s my excuse.” You are reasonable, responsible, and make good choices. Don’t assume that those who are pulling out all the stops to avoid getting the vaccine are the same as you. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2022, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/immunity-after-getting-covid-should-fulfill-vaccine-requirements/958258/259 "2022-01-28T22:22:02Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > > [@puzzlegal](#): > > > > And I find it odd that you are accusing me of saying “me, me, me”. > > I don’t think anyone is accusing _you_ of saying “me, me, me”. You’re certainly not like this at all. > > But your arguments are giving a lot of cover to those who ARE saying “me, me, me”. Yes, in particular bringing up the completely irrelevant “vaccine shedding” argument. Antivaxers have long demonized the vaccinated as being “shedders”, a highly deceptive claim recently revived by those opposed to Covid-19 vaccination. > **[SARS Wars - Return of the Shedder](https://vaxopedia.org/2021/05/05/sars-wars-return-of-the-shedder/)** > > Who came up with the myth of COVID-19 vaccine shedding? Giving ammo to antivaxers (even when it’s dud ammo) is a bad idea. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2022, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/immunity-after-getting-covid-should-fulfill-vaccine-requirements/958258/260 "2022-01-28T23:07:35Z")
Huh? I challenged someone who brought that up. I didn’t bring it up. Or wait, i asked what the heck someone meant by the vaccine being “leaky”. I don’t think anyone has brought up “vaccine shedding” recently, until you just did. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/immunity-after-getting-covid-should-fulfill-vaccine-requirements/958258.md?page=12) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/immunity-after-getting-covid-should-fulfill-vaccine-requirements/958258.md?page=14)