# 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:** 19
**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:** [February 6, 2022, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/immunity-after-getting-covid-should-fulfill-vaccine-requirements/958258/361 "2022-02-06T01:43:46Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > It’s all about the antibodies produced. Well, that didn’t take long. ---
**Author:** ![DMC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dmc/32/18049_2.png) [@DMC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMC)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2022, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/immunity-after-getting-covid-should-fulfill-vaccine-requirements/958258/362 "2022-02-06T01:50:14Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > It’s all about the antibodies produced. In that case, the proper response to your OP is “No. Getting CoVID should not fulfill vaccine requirements” since we all know that getting CoVID AND getting vaccinated (and getting boosted, and again as needed), produces more antibodies than getting CoVID alone. I’m glad we were able to solve your question in a satisfactory manner. ---
**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:** [February 6, 2022, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/immunity-after-getting-covid-should-fulfill-vaccine-requirements/958258/363 "2022-02-06T02:13:26Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > where in this thread or any other thread did I say a booster didn’t matter? > > It’s all about the antibodies produced. You repeatedly demonstrate that you don’t understand quantity and specificity of antibodies not to mention cellular immunity that @Jackmannii just posted. You don’t understand the variants. And once again you demonstrate that you don’t understand what conflicting studies could mean and just simplify it to someone being “wrong”. Meanwhile, the US with all its “natural immunity” has had 2-10x the death rate of other wealthy countries even though most adults in the US are estimated to have antibodies by now. What’s the difference? They’re vaccinated and boosted whether or not they’ve been infected. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2022, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/immunity-after-getting-covid-should-fulfill-vaccine-requirements/958258/364 "2022-02-06T02:35:53Z")
> [@Tfletch1](#): > > You repeatedly demonstrate that you don’t understand quantity and specificity of antibodies not to mention cellular immunity that @Jackmannii just posted I’ve cited the CDC that it’s effective and in some cases more effective. ---
**Author:** ![DMC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dmc/32/18049_2.png) [@DMC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMC)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2022, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/immunity-after-getting-covid-should-fulfill-vaccine-requirements/958258/365 "2022-02-06T03:04:07Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > I’ve cited the CDC that it’s effective and in some cases more effective. Did you give us a cite that tells us in which circumstances there is a downside to getting vaccinated, regardless of previous infection status? If that were to be universally true, I’d take your side. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2022, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/immunity-after-getting-covid-should-fulfill-vaccine-requirements/958258/366 "2022-02-06T03:08:03Z")
> [@DMC](#): > > Did you give us a cite that tells us in which circumstances there is a downside to getting vaccinated, regardless of previous infection status? If that were to be universally true, I’d take your side. I’ve never suggested people not get vaccinated. there seems to be a disconnect in the conversation. ---
**Author:** ![DMC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dmc/32/18049_2.png) [@DMC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMC)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2022, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/immunity-after-getting-covid-should-fulfill-vaccine-requirements/958258/367 "2022-02-06T03:09:19Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > there seems to be a disconnect in the conversation. There sure is. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2022, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/immunity-after-getting-covid-should-fulfill-vaccine-requirements/958258/368 "2022-02-06T03:10:15Z")
Then you can show me where I’ve said people shouldn’t get vaccinated. ---
**Author:** ![DMC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dmc/32/18049_2.png) [@DMC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMC)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2022, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/immunity-after-getting-covid-should-fulfill-vaccine-requirements/958258/369 "2022-02-06T03:11:19Z")
I’ll pass. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2022, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/immunity-after-getting-covid-should-fulfill-vaccine-requirements/958258/370 "2022-02-06T03:29:38Z")
Because you can’t. You have no choice. ---
**Author:** ![I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/i_love_me_vol.i/32/521_2.png) [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_Love_Me_Vol.I)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2022, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/immunity-after-getting-covid-should-fulfill-vaccine-requirements/958258/371 "2022-02-07T04:16:51Z")
Nevermind ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2022, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/immunity-after-getting-covid-should-fulfill-vaccine-requirements/958258/372 "2022-02-08T23:05:34Z")
[Germany recognizes natural immunity](https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2021-07-29/germany-to-require-proof-of-covid-immunity-or-negative-test-on-arrival-sources). BERLIN (Reuters) - All travellers arriving in Germany will be required from this weekend to demonstrate immunity from COVID-19 either from a vaccine or previous infection, or present a negative test result, government sources reported. ---
**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:** [February 22, 2022, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/immunity-after-getting-covid-should-fulfill-vaccine-requirements/958258/373 "2022-02-22T18:01:44Z")
More on “natural immunity”. > **[Which is best, vaccine-induced immunity, “natural immunity,” or “super...](https://sciencebasedmedicine.org/natural-immunity-and-super-immunity/)** > > Those opposed to public health interventions to slow the spread of COVID-19, including masks, "lockdowns," and vaccine mandates, are hyping "natural" immunity again as somehow "superior" to vaccine-ac ---
**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:** [February 22, 2022, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/immunity-after-getting-covid-should-fulfill-vaccine-requirements/958258/374 "2022-02-22T19:00:57Z")
Best? Best is the one that was safe to obtain. My mom will absolutely never catch covid again. It killed her, thus providing perfect future immunity. But not the best kind of immunity. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2022, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/immunity-after-getting-covid-should-fulfill-vaccine-requirements/958258/375 "2022-02-22T20:14:50Z")
Nobody has argued against vaccines to generate immunity. But there is great push back against recognizing immunity if you get covid and that is an almost certainty regardless of whether you got the vaccine or not. ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2022, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/immunity-after-getting-covid-should-fulfill-vaccine-requirements/958258/376 "2022-02-22T20:33:34Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > But there is great push back against recognizing immunity if you get covid Right, and that is, as has been explained a number of times, both because it would encourage people to get COVID rather than the vaccine, and because there is not an adequate test to determine if you have a robust immunity. And yes, anyone who is arguing that exposure to COVID should count as immunity _is_ arguing against using vaccines to generate immunity. ---
**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:** [February 22, 2022, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/immunity-after-getting-covid-should-fulfill-vaccine-requirements/958258/377 "2022-02-22T20:49:34Z")
> [@k9bfriender](#): > > anyone who is arguing that exposure to COVID should count as immunity _is_ arguing against using vaccines to generate immunity. I’ll disagree with that. I really do think there’s a difference between retroactively recognizing a medically documented case of covid and encouraging people to go out and catch covid. Quite a lot of people who aren’t anti-vaxxers do end up catching covid, one way or another. My reading of current papers suggests that you get much better cellular immunity from 3 doses of vaccine, or from a case of covid followed by a dose of vaccine, than by less exposure. And that there may be limited value to additional doses of vaccine, except for the recency effect. (antibody levels tend to drop over time, but can be refreshed for a few months with another dose. This is unlike cellular immunity, which is slower to react, but appears to be long-lived.) ---
**Author:** ![DavidNRockies](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidnrockies/32/6279_2.png) [@DavidNRockies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidNRockies)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2022, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/immunity-after-getting-covid-should-fulfill-vaccine-requirements/958258/378 "2022-02-23T15:02:40Z")
Another interesting development. > [@](#): > > The omicron variant can dodge antibodies — immune molecules that prevent the virus from infecting cells _—_ produced after two doses of a COVID vaccine. But a third shot of the mRNA vaccines made by Pfizer-BioNTech or by Moderna prompts the body to make a much wider variety of antibodies, which would be difficult for any variant of the virus to evade, according to the most recent study. > > The diverse repertoire of antibodies produced should be able to protect people from new variants, even those that differ significantly from the original version of the virus, the study suggests. > **[Got a Covid Booster? You Probably Won’t Need Another for a Long Time...](https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/got-a-covid-booster-you-probably-wont-need-another-for-a-long-time/)** > > A flurry of new studies suggests that several parts of the immune system can mount a sustained, potent response to any coronavirus variant. Could the same thing happen to people who were infected by COVID on multiple occasions ? Dunno. Still feels a lot like Russian Roulette to me, though. YMMV. ---
**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:** [February 23, 2022, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/immunity-after-getting-covid-should-fulfill-vaccine-requirements/958258/379 "2022-02-23T15:34:46Z")
This article pulls CDC data to show that vaccine protection was considerably less during omicron than during delta. (and WaPo claims this article is free for everyone) > **[Coronavirus vaccine protection was much weaker against omicron, data shows](https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/interactive/2022/vaccine-omicron-effectiveness/?itid=lk_fullstory)** > > While coronavirus shots still provided protection during the omicron wave, the shield of coverage they offered was weaker than during other surges, new data shows. There’s actually a major debate among doctors and other scientists now as to whether it makes sense to distribute an omicron-tailored booster. Some feel the immunity offered by the initial vaccine is good enough, and others feel that the reduction in effectiveness is so great that we should try to ameliorate that. You can find articles (including in medical sources, like the New England Journal of Medicine) on both sides if this debates out there right now. ---
**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:** [February 23, 2022, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/immunity-after-getting-covid-should-fulfill-vaccine-requirements/958258/380 "2022-02-23T15:47:03Z")
From the Washington Post article: “Before omicron, unvaccinated people were 50 to 60 times as likely to die as people who had received the initial series of vaccines and a booster. That difference dropped in late December to 27 times as high.” Only 27 times as likely to die from Covid-19? Trifling difference! So go for that “natural immunity”, baby! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/immunity-after-getting-covid-should-fulfill-vaccine-requirements/958258.md?page=18) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/immunity-after-getting-covid-should-fulfill-vaccine-requirements/958258.md?page=20)