According to a new study, people who recovered from COVID-19 during one of the earlier waves of the pandemic appear to have a lower risk of contracting the delta variant than those who got two doses of the vaccine from Pfizer.
This is good news for patients who already successfully battled COVID-19, but shows the challenge of relying exclusively on immunizations to move past the pandemic. People given both doses of the Pfizer vaccine were nearly six-fold more likely to contract a delta infection and seven-fold more likely to have symptomatic disease than those who recovered. SARS-CoV-2 vaccinees were also at a greater risk for COVID-19-related-hospitalizations compared to those that were previously infected.
According to the researchers in this large study, “This analysis demonstrated that natural immunity affords longer-lasting and stronger protection against infection, symptomatic disease and hospitalization due to the delta variant.”
Giving a single shot of the vaccine to those who had been previously infected also appeared to boost their protection. However, the long-term benefit of a booster dose of the inoculation, which has just recently begun in Israel, is unknown.
Do vaccinated people carry and spread the virus?
In listening to interviews with high-level CDC experts, they never promised that any of the vaccines would stop people from spreading the virus and actually getting the virus. What was clear is that the vaccines would lessen the symptoms in a high percentage of people. The CDC was hopeful that the vaccine would do all three, but recent research and statistics are not favorable. So now even if we get the vaccines, we must still be cautious about spreading and getting the virus.
“The risks of SARS-CoV-2 infection in fully vaccinated people cannot be completely eliminated as long as there is continued community transmission of the virus,” the CDC said in a July 27, 2021 brief. “Vaccinated people could potentially still get COVID-19 and spread it to others.”
Europe recognizes “Natural Immunity”:
Conde Nast Traveler gives the countries in Europe as of July 25, 2021 which allow entry with proof of prior covid recovery. They are Austria, Greece, Germany, Croatia, Iceland, Italy, Portugal, Switzerland, and Romania. Natural immunity is being recognized in several parts of Europe for travel. Many parts of Europe are recognizing natural immunity for those returning to work.
Here’s an excerpt from the research by Science Magazine:
The new analysis relies on the database of Maccabi Healthcare Services, which enrolls about 2.5 million Israelis. The study, led by Tal Patalon and Sivan Gazit at KSM, the system’s research and innovation arm, found in two analyses that people who were vaccinated in January and February were, in June, July, and the first half of August, six to 13 times more likely to get infected than unvaccinated people who were previously infected with the coronavirus. In one analysis, comparing more than 32,000 people in the health system, the risk of developing symptomatic COVID-19 was 27 times higher among the vaccinated, and the risk of hospitalization eight times higher.
According to an article in the Wall Street Journal published June 8, 2021 called “The Power of Natural Immunity”:
The news about the U.S. Covid pandemic is even better than you’ve heard. Some 80% to 85% of American adults are immune to the virus: More than 64% have received at least one vaccine dose and, of those who haven’t, roughly half have natural immunity from prior infection. There’s ample scientific evidence that natural immunity is effective and durable, and public-health leaders should pay it heed.
The contribution of natural immunity should speed up the timeline for returning fully to normal. With more than 8 in 10 adults protected from either contracting or transmitting the virus, it can’t readily propagate by jumping around in the population. In public health, we call that herd immunity, defined broadly on the Johns Hopkins Covid information webpage as “when most of a population is immune.” It’s not eradication, but it’s powerful.
According to a Scientific Brief by the World Health Organization (WHO) dated May 10, 2021:
Though rarely reported to date, reinfection with SARS-CoV-2 can occur. Four large studies from the United Kingdom, the United States of America and Denmark estimated that infection with SARS-CoV-2 provided 80-90% protection from reinfection up to 7 months, and up to 94% protection against symptomatic disease.
According to a physician’s opinion by Dr. Marty Makary in US News and World Report August 5, 2021:
Those who choose not to get vaccinated are making a poor health decision at their own individual risk. However, they pose no public health threat to those already immune.
Some people already have ‘natural immunity‘ – that is, immunity from prior COVID infection. During every month of this pandemic, I’ve had debates with other public researchers about the effectiveness and durability of natural immunity. I’ve been told that natural immunity could fall off a cliff, rendering people susceptible to infection. But here we are now, over a year and a half into the clinical experience of observing patients who were infected, and natural immunity is effective and going strong. And that’s because with natural immunity, the body develops antibodies to the entire surface of the virus, not just a spike protein constructed from a vaccine. The power of natural immunity was recently affirmed in an Israeli study, which found a 6.7 times greater level of protection among those with natural immunity vs. those with vaccinated immunity.
This new research added to the research in my previous article called “Natural Immunity Wins Every Time” enables us to look differently at those who have natural immunity. They are not the “bad guys” causing the rest of our country to suffer. Some are not opting to take the vaccine because they are allowing their own immune system to carry out its own God-given abilities. These folks are helping us to achieve herd immunity. And their immunity can last a year if not longer. This recent research only proves that our God-given immune system is powerful. Although man-made vaccines help in many ways—especially with those who can’t afford to get Covid-19, they can’t beat God’s creative design.
Our job is to enhance our God-given immune system with lifestyle changes. Are we suppressing it or enhancing it. Here are six ways to enhance it during this pandemic.
Are you suppressing your God-given immune system or enhancing it?
For Your Health,
Ginny
Ginny Dent Brant is a speaker and writer who grew up in the halls of power in Washington, DC. She has battled cancer, ministered around the world, and served on the front lines of American culture as a counselor, educator, wellness advocate, and adjunct professor. Brant’s award-winning book, Finding True Freedom: From the White House to the World, was endorsed by Chuck Colson and featured in many TV and media interviews. Unleash Your God-Given Healing: Eight Steps to Prevent and Survive Cancer was released in May 2020 after her journey with cancer and was recently awarded the First Place Golden Scrolls Award for Memoirs, and Second Place in both Selah Awards for Memoirs and Director’s Choice Award for Nonfiction at the Blue Ridge Mountain Christian Writer’s Conference. It was written with commentary from an oncologist and was featured on CBN’s Healthy Living Show, Atlanta Live, and CTN’s Homekeepers. Learn more and cancer and wellness prevention blog and book information at www.ginnybrant.com.