3 ms·

I’m unaware of _any_ illness where some measure of immunity is not developed. I find it incredibly hard to believe that recovering from covid infection does not

I’m unaware of _any_ illness where some measure of immunity is not developed. I find it incredibly hard to believe that recovering from covid infection does not afford some level of immunity. I do wonder if recovery due to anti-virals prevents or weakens immunity, however.

nostromo 7y ago
Right. If our immune system didn't get better at fighting something, you would remain infected forever or die from it. Reference HIV as an example of a virus our immune system could not fight. If anyone is getting better (and 98%+ of people are) it's because the immune system can effectively fight it.
- __blockcipher__ 7y ago
  Wow, I didn’t even think of it like that. That’s a great way to reason about it that makes it immediately clear. Thanks!
- smaddox 7y ago
  Or it could go dormant, like the herpes virus.
scotty79 7y ago
Maybe it's sort of survivor bias. Maybe antivirals don't weaken immunity but people who survived thanks to antivirals have innately such a weak immune response that they wouldn't have survived without them.
- rv-de 7y ago
  Huh? Antivirals just eliminate the virus before the immune system gets a chance to step in and build up immunity. How about that?
  - scotty79 7y ago
    I don't think that's true. I don't think they give antivirals to people before they have fever. And fever is one of the results of immune system working.
    - rv-de 7y ago
      Sure, but the body still isn't done building up immunity.
      - scotty79 7y ago
        Miniscule amount of pathogen in the vaccine can give you full immunity. I think when you have fever your immune system was already exposed to enough of the virus to build full immunity for the future. Now it's just the case of whether you survive to enjoy your future immunity. And anti-virals just help you with that part.
        rv-de 7y ago
        Okay, I'm not a doctor, so maybe you're right. It just doesn't seem plausible. Though, that doesn't mean much.

nostromo 7y ago

Right. If our immune system didn't get better at fighting something, you would remain infected forever or die from it. Reference HIV as an example of a virus our immune system could not fight. If anyone is getting better (and 98%+ of people are) it's because the immune system can effectively fight it.

__blockcipher__ 7y ago
Wow, I didn’t even think of it like that. That’s a great way to reason about it that makes it immediately clear. Thanks!
smaddox 7y ago
Or it could go dormant, like the herpes virus.

scotty79 7y ago

Maybe it's sort of survivor bias. Maybe antivirals don't weaken immunity but people who survived thanks to antivirals have innately such a weak immune response that they wouldn't have survived without them.

rv-de 7y ago
Huh? Antivirals just eliminate the virus before the immune system gets a chance to step in and build up immunity. How about that?
- scotty79 7y ago
  I don't think that's true. I don't think they give antivirals to people before they have fever. And fever is one of the results of immune system working.
  - rv-de 7y ago
    Sure, but the body still isn't done building up immunity.
    - scotty79 7y ago
      Miniscule amount of pathogen in the vaccine can give you full immunity. I think when you have fever your immune system was already exposed to enough of the virus to build full immunity for the future. Now it's just the case of whether you survive to enjoy your future immunity. And anti-virals just help you with that part.
      - rv-de 7y ago
        Okay, I'm not a doctor, so maybe you're right. It just doesn't seem plausible. Though, that doesn't mean much.