Dr. John Campbell

← Dr. John CampbellNew · 22 min

Vaccination or natural immunity

Vaccination or natural immunityNew22 min

COVID-19 vaccine mandates should not discriminate against natural immunity, The unnaturalistic fallacyUploaded 21-06-22https://jme.bmj.com/content/48/6/371COVID-19 vaccine requirements, debate,policies should have recognised proof of natural immunity,sufficient basis for exemption to vaccination requirements. ArgumentsTwo implausible claims about natural immunity: Natural immunity is superior to ‘artificial’ immunityIt is better to acquire immunity through natural infectionNaturalistic fallacy (many things are natural, but not good)(A natural public health strategy, increased overall morbidity and mortality)We lack clear and convincing scientific evidence that vaccine-induced immunity has a significantly higher protective effect than natural immunity.Vaccine requirements represent a substantial infringement of individual liberty, and other significant costsCan only be justified if they are necessary for achieving a proportionate public health benefit. Without compelling evidence for the superiority of vaccine-induced immunity, it cannot be deemed necessary to require vaccination for those with natural immunity. ‘vaccine passports’ ‘health passes’ Rationale for vaccine mandatesPreventing healthcare systems becoming overwhelmed, (staff and patients)Reducing community viral transmissionAcquired immunity naturally, potentially equivalent to vaccination immunityThis is the unnaturalistic fallacy as opposed to the naturalistic fallacyNatural immunity and vaccine-induced immunity, evidenceEquivalency of Protection From Natural Immunity in COVID-19 Recovered Versus Fully Vaccinated Persons: A Systematic Review and Pooled Analysishttps://www.cureus.com/articles/72074-eAll of the included studies found at least statistical equivalence between the protection of full vaccination and natural immunity; and, three studies found superiority of natural immunity. NNT to prevent one annual case of infection in COVID-recovered patients 218NNT COVID-naïve patients, 6.533.5-fold difference in benefit between the two populationsour review demonstrates that natural immunity in COVID-recovered individuals is, at least, equivalent to the protection afforded by complete vaccination of COVID-naïve populations Vaccinations for recovered people, marginal on an absolute basis. Omicron in adults aged 65 or overminimal or no effect against mild disease with the Omicron variant from 20 weeks after the second dose of ChAdOx1-S or BNT162b2data are beginning to emerge which suggest that the e