The point of a vaccine is to give you an attenuated (weakened) version of an antigen’s (a toxin, bacteria’s or virus’) spike protein (the part of the antigen that makes you sick) to activate your adaptive immune system. This helps to fight and produce antibodies that will protect you from the ill side effects of the antigens present and future. The hope is that you will have lasting immunity meaning that you won’t get dreadfully sick the next time your body see this virus. Sometimes you do need a booster because our immune system get weaker as we get older or we have ton of health issues that overwhelms the system.
Your body has a built in memory cells from both T cells and B cells. It takes your body about 7 days to produce these cells, and you’ll generally start feeling better around this time. These cells are so incredibly specific in how it fights each antigen.
The vaccine mirrors how our body naturally fight an antigen, however, because it is a weaken version the goal is that your body will fight it without getting you dreadfully sick and produce the antibodies needed. As far as researchers have found, the antibodies are the same whether you got it through natural immunity or the vaccine.
I say all that to say this, although we don’t know everything about COVID-make no mistake it is a real and deadly virus, it is still a virus and our body treat it the same way it treats all other antigens. Some of us were unfortunate to catch this virus before a vaccine. For those of us who have survived this virus, our body created antibodies which are the same antibodies as those who are vaccinated. How long does immunity last for Covid, vaxxed or naturally acquired? Scientist are not yet sure. The logic “If the vaccine gives me the same antibodies as I already have due to natural immunity, why would I need the vaccine” is a valid one to have and need to be researched on if there is vaccine hesitancy.
For most places, an antibody test is just as good as a vaccine passport.
So, as you guys speak about Isaac, however faulty you find his reasoning, realize that he is not putting other people’s health at risk any more than a vaccinated person. Please know that you can still get COVID whether your vaccinated or natural immunity but with the antibodies your risk of severe sickness is very low.
***Oh, please do not use the logic of “I am just going to catch Covid to get the antibodies so that I won’t get the vaccine. That is playing with your life, and others, because you or others who caught it from you, can die from Covid.*** Be safe everyone and here’s to hoping for a great season.
