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Related to this, I don't understand why recovering from Covid and having Igm and Igg antibodies confirmed by test doesn't count the same as having received a fu

by bserge 6y ago

Related to this, I don't understand why recovering from Covid and having Igm and Igg antibodies confirmed by test doesn't count the same as having received a full vaccination. Isn't that exactly what the vaccine does? The end result is you get antibodies that last for several months at least, and cannot get reinfected. And yet, every time I need to travel I need a PCR test. It's not often at all, mind you, but going between 2 countries is a major pain. Meanwhile professional drivers, and only them, are allowed to travel with a previous positive Covid test + Igg antibodies test. And last time I crossed the border, they let in a woman who had a lateral flow test, smh. It makes no sense to me. Anyone has any insight aside from downvotes?

vineyardmike 6y ago
Can’t find a source atm (it was some video presentation from a biological researcher recently) but I heard that the level of antibodies you get from a vaccine is a multiple higher than from a prior infection. Also, the infection supposedly only protects you for a short period of time (clear since re-infection is possible). Also we don’t have much data on how a prior-infected person can spread the virus as a carrier. We have this same concern with the vaccine. Edit: when we see that certain professions have special rules, it’s more likely that they just got special permission since the job is important not that they have different biological safety.
- bserge 6y ago
  That's interesting, first time I hear about it. I did read it protects from more variants. And it's the Igg antibodies that protect from re-infection, but only for 3-6 months at most. Some say it's the same for the vaccine, so it will likely need to be a regular thing, like flu shots.
orev 6y ago
The idea is that when you get sick, your body just starts randomly throwing things at the virus to see what works, and eventually it finds something that “works”, even though it might not be the optimal solution. The vaccine gives your immune system a plan for the “most effective” solution, which is expected to act more quickly and cover more variants. This is why they are also recommending people get vaccinated even if they have already recovered from an infection.
- ac29 6y ago
  > The idea is that when you get sick, your body just starts randomly throwing things at the virus to see what works, and eventually it finds something that “works”, even though it might not be the optimal solution. This is a remarkably apt description of that part of the immune system. For anyone curious, see: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T_cell#Development https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T_cell#Development
mzs 6y ago
The antibodies are not all that matters, they would simply disappear over time. The second dose spurs the B & T lymphocytes to produce even more. > That booster shot is necessary for the T-cells to stimulate the memory B-cells to produce massive quantities of antibodies. If the booster isn’t given within the appropriate window, lower quantities of antibodies will be produced that may not provide as powerful protection from the virus. https://theconversation.com/why-it-takes-2-shots-to-make-mrna-vaccines-do-their-antibody-creating-best-and-what-the-data-shows-on-delaying-the-booster-dose-153956 https://theconversation.com/why-it-takes-2-shots-to-make-mrn...

by bserge 6y ago

vineyardmike 6y ago

Can’t find a source atm (it was some video presentation from a biological researcher recently) but I heard that the level of antibodies you get from a vaccine is a multiple higher than from a prior infection. Also, the infection supposedly only protects you for a short period of time (clear since re-infection is possible). Also we don’t have much data on how a prior-infected person can spread the virus as a carrier. We have this same concern with the vaccine. Edit: when we see that certain professions have special rules, it’s more likely that they just got special permission since the job is important not that they have different biological safety.

bserge 6y ago
That's interesting, first time I hear about it. I did read it protects from more variants. And it's the Igg antibodies that protect from re-infection, but only for 3-6 months at most. Some say it's the same for the vaccine, so it will likely need to be a regular thing, like flu shots.

orev 6y ago

The idea is that when you get sick, your body just starts randomly throwing things at the virus to see what works, and eventually it finds something that “works”, even though it might not be the optimal solution. The vaccine gives your immune system a plan for the “most effective” solution, which is expected to act more quickly and cover more variants. This is why they are also recommending people get vaccinated even if they have already recovered from an infection.

ac29 6y ago
> The idea is that when you get sick, your body just starts randomly throwing things at the virus to see what works, and eventually it finds something that “works”, even though it might not be the optimal solution. This is a remarkably apt description of that part of the immune system. For anyone curious, see: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T_cell#Development https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T_cell#Development

mzs 6y ago

The antibodies are not all that matters, they would simply disappear over time. The second dose spurs the B & T lymphocytes to produce even more. > That booster shot is necessary for the T-cells to stimulate the memory B-cells to produce massive quantities of antibodies. If the booster isn’t given within the appropriate window, lower quantities of antibodies will be produced that may not provide as powerful protection from the virus. https://theconversation.com/why-it-takes-2-shots-to-make-mrna-vaccines-do-their-antibody-creating-best-and-what-the-data-shows-on-delaying-the-booster-dose-153956 https://theconversation.com/why-it-takes-2-shots-to-make-mrn...