AFTER COVID – 19 INFECTION, IS THERE STILL A NEED TO BE VACCINATED?

One of the most asked question by people who had the coronavirus infection and recovered from it is do I still need to be vaccinated, since I recovered from the infection? I must have developed natural immunity to the virus.

This is a very good and an important question. My answer to this question is “yes you do.” Because the initial coronavirus infections and pandemic was caused by an initial and different strain of coronavirus. Coronaviruses continuously mutate to create a new and genetically different variant of themselves. Variants have been named with Greek alphabet letters. Up to now, we have 4 different variants: alpha, beta, gamma, and delta have been named, and more to come. The delta variant is much more infectious and deadlier than the other variants. Therefore, vaccination is needed to protect yourself and the others against infections.

I strongly believe in the “Darwinian evolution and survival of the fittest theory” that all living creatures, including viruses, continuously try to create a genetically better version of themselves, by mutations or by whatever mean possible, to overcome existing difficulties in their living environment and to become survival of the fittest.

As I see it, the delta variant of Covid – 19 virus, which is causing infections in unvaccinated people and breakthrough infections in vaccinated people, spreading all over the world is the survival of the fittest. Vaccines are only partly effective. To control this infection, we need to not only to get the vaccination but also use face masks and practice social distancing.

Research scientists try to answer this question by evaluating the immune response, after a natural coronavirus infection, and after vaccination with an mRNA vaccine, in two different groups of people.

The first group is composed of people who have had Covid – 19 infection and recovered from it. First scientists checked the natural immune response to infection, then they checked the immune response after vaccinating them, to see if there were any difference in immune response.

The second group is composed of people with no prior infection and received two doses of an mRNA vaccine.

Scientists have determined that post infection immunologic response was to initial coronavirus variants, and the immunologic memory, in immune - active memory cells (both B and T cell) persist for at least 8 months or more. Natural protection against initial beta strain of coronavirus is between 93 to 100 percent. But it is less clear how protective the vaccines are against delta variant. But vaccinations generate more vigorous B and T cells responses than the natural infection and, might be more protective against all the variants of Covid-19 virus. Therefore, vaccination is strongly recommended for all eligible people.

Vaccine refusal is not an expression of personal freedom. It is a willfully ignorant behavior. Anti – vaxxers don’t realize that they become enabler of viral replication. They provide the virus multiple opportunities to easily infect them, to use their cellular replicating genetic mechanisms to replicate themselves by millions and to modify their genetic makeup by mutations. This doesn’t allow for vaccine induced immunity, so it causes breakthrough infections, and the virus uses humans continuously as a host for replication.

So, under these circumstances let’s all pray for God’s help.

References: 1.Stamatatos L.et all. mRNA vaccination boosts cross- variant neutralizing antibodies by SARS-CoV-2 Infection. Science 2021 March 25.

2.Komaroff AL. People with post Covid – 19 benefit from immunization.JWatch.org August 1,2021.