Let’s start by demonstrating the ongoing politicization of the pandemic with the tweets from the Kentucky senator.
A more interesting question is perhaps whether there are advantages or disadvantages to natural versus artificial, ie vaccinated immunity?
The short answer is that it makes no difference to our immune system. Whether the antigen is a virus or bacterium, or a piece of it made by man, the immune system recognizes it as foreign and ‘does its thing’. The thing, of course, is to develop an immune response. The transformation takes place in the bloodstream and lymph nodes, regardless of whether the antigen enters our nose, mouth, digestive tract, lung or via a needle.
“However, the difference between vaccination and natural infection is the price paid for immunity” Immune System and Health Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
There are some differences though. Natural immunity requires that enough antigen, viral or bacterial, be identified to trigger the immune system. More antigen gives a more robust response. But the reaction varies several times – a mild case with minimal symptoms can lead to a half-hearted natural vaccination than you might hope.
Let us examine the cost of natural immunity before considering the variability of reaction – you must be infected and can have significant consequences. If you look at a deadly disease, such as COVID-19, or infection with significant morbidity, such as brain damage due to measles or paralysis due to polio, the cost can be quite high. Vaccinations is far safer than gaining immunity by becoming ill. This is the consideration underlying the struggle to develop herd immunity naturally. Herd immunity will develop, but there will be many deaths.
For most immunities, vaccines are not only safer, but produce a more potent response. These include vaccinations for HPV, tetanus and pneumonia; pumpkins are an exception. The other advantage of a vaccine over natural immunity is its standardization. First, as opposed to acquiring natural immunity, you can choose when to be vaccinated. Second, while natural immunity elicits a variety of responses, vaccines are designed to create the most important immune response without compromising safety.
For the COVID-19 vaccines, there are two more questions. How long will the immunity last? We do not know yet, but only time will tell. Again, most vaccines provide equally long-lasting immunity. The two mRNA vaccines are targeted to the ear protein. Natural immunity can target the peak and other viral forms, which can protect the natural immunity from some variants; again we do not know. What we do know is that gaining your immunity by taking COVID-19 is foolishness; to be vaccinated is extremely effective and safe.
“Because vaccines are made with parts of the viruses and bacteria that cause disease, the ingredient that is the active ingredient of the vaccine that causes immunity is natural. Critics point out that other ingredients in vaccines or the route of administration are unnatural.”
Philadelphia Immune System and Children’s Health Hospital
Vaccinations contain three common ingredients, an additive, a stabilizer, and often a preservative. The Pfizer vaccine contains no additive; You may be thinking of the first dose that prepares your immune system for the second dose; although the first confers considerable immunity. Instead of a stabilizer, the mRNA is wrapped in a little fat with salt and sugar, called a nanoparticle. It contains no preservatives. The Moderna vaccine is essentially the same and differs in the elements of the nanoparticle. Johnson & Johnson’s vaccine uses a different delivery method for the antigen. It uses an adenovirus – one that causes colds and is weakened to cause no symptoms. It is stabilized using a sugar, and the preservative is a citrate commonly found in food.
“I believe that everyone should take the vaccine morally. It is the moral choice, because it is about your life, but also the lives of others.”
Pope Francis
Catholics have expressed concern about the J&J product because the production of the vaccine is the use of a cell line obtained from aborted fetal tissue. The initial statements by local church officials were mixed messages. In 2005, the Vatican’s Papal Council of Life indicated that there were ‘degrees of cooperation with evil’ – that the further the involvement in abortion took place. The pope has declared, and now the American Catholic leadership has agreed, that a devout Catholic should choose another vaccine if he is given a choice. If there is no choice, the vaccination of Johnson and Johnson is ‘morally acceptable’.
But I will give the last word on the subject to ACSH friend Dr. Paul Offit – the director of the Center for Vaccine Education and Professor of Pediatrics in the Department of Infectious Diseases at the Children’s Hospital in Philadelphia.
Source: Philadelphia Children’s Hospital Vaccination Safety: Immune System and Health
New York Times ‘natural immunity’ against Covid is no safer than a vaccine
MIT Technology Review What are the ingredients of Pfizer’s covid-19 vaccine?