Relaxation of Restrictions, Part XII *Read OP For Mod Warnings*

If getting ill is the measure then I suspect somebody previously infected has very little to be worrying about.

covid is yesterdays news its all about climate change again now.

I was very ill. I wouldn't wish it on anyone.

I wouldn't imagine so. That's why I'm in no rush to get the vaccine now.

That was my point. Previously asymptomatic people will probably still be asymptomatic if they catch it again. People who were slightly ill previously will probably be even less ill if they catch it again. People who were very ill will probably not be as ill the second time around. People in ICU the first time will likely fare much better.

If stopping illness is the stated goal then previously having covid will probably do that job perfectly well.

There is evidence that immunity from having covid may last most of ones life, so the requirement for a vaccine if you’ve had the ‘rona previously would appear to be minimal.

https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-01442-9

That reference to boosters there means new vaccines tailored to new variants - to counter the variants "blunting effect of antibodies"

Which doesnt support your argument either - vaccinated people will need those kind of tailored booster shots should variants arise that are tougher to deal with.

Exactly - the situation described in that article equally pertains to vaccines as it does to natural immunity.

Its effectively saying - enough mutations will weaken any immunity to the old virus strain A. So of course anyone with naturally immunity or vaccine immunity to strain A will possibly require an updated virus (or be infected with new strain). Its not an argument that supports natural vs vaccine immunity though.

It makes the assumption of enough antigenic drift in the virus to need a new vaccine.

Thats like arguing that covid immunity doesnt protect against the flu - well yeah no sh*t. The immunity to covid and strains close to that the original immunity came from, could well last most of ones life. Vaccine immunity might too. But neither will protect you against fundamentally different viruses (or those that mutate enough to get around existing antibodies)

The concept of herd immunity always has been a weak concept as used in the media. The coronavirus is not likely to go away. It will probably stay with us forever. Like the flu influenza virus and the other human coronavirus already circulating among us and giving us the cold. For more information you can also google the terms: Coronavirus endemic

The combination of vaccination and natural immunity will turn this novel coronavirus into another flu-like and cold-like virus. Giving us no symptoms or mild symptoms for those already infected or those vaccinated. It's already the case for those vaccinated or those who gain natural immunity by getting infected one time by it. Like with the flu and viruses giving cold, each of us will probably be infected many times in our lifetime with this new coronavirus.

The reason why many people, especially those with a weak immune system like elderly people and people with pre-existing health conditions, died or suffered severe symptoms from the new coronavirus was because it was a new virus. After you catch it for the first time or you get vaccinated, your body mount an immune response to it. Rendering future infections much milder. Common examples are the flu virus or other human coronavirus already circulating among us.

The influenza virus mutates even faster than this coronavirus. That's why a yearly flu shots is suggested to people. Especially the elderly which have a weaker immune system as we age.

It was but sadly it was a global problem. A lot of of it was also to do with the care homes themselves, their poor levels of infection control and staff working in multiple locations. Was told by someone working with NHs as HSE support from April last year that some of these homes should not be allowed to operate and that many of those are HIQA supervised.