3 ms·

I think this is based on a misinterpretation of the hygiene hypothesis... exposure to germs helps when you're a child yourself but not after becoming an adult (

by rendaw 4y ago

I think this is based on a misinterpretation of the hygiene hypothesis... exposure to germs helps when you're a child yourself but not after becoming an adult (AFAIA). This is supported by https://medical.mit.edu/covid-19-updates/2020/05/all-social-distancing-weakening-our-immune-systems https://medical.mit.edu/covid-19-updates/2020/05/all-social-...

SirMaster 4y ago
But don't parents getting sick at work and bringing it home to their kids help the kids get exposed? Or do you think kids get enough exposure at school? (assuming schools don't keep going remote too)
- dotnet00 4y ago
  Based on how consistently my niece has been sick since starting school this year, I'd say they get enough exposure at school.
tuyiown 4y ago
I understand I have no authority on the subject, but, aren't we well aware that immunity wears off at different rates depending on the strain ? A lot of sickness only affect the children, and once for their lifetime, but there is at least covid for we know the immunity wears off. Surely there are many others. edit: I suspect the article only states that life long immunity does not wears off. I don't challenge that at all.
- ryanbrunner 4y ago
  This isn't really as simple as a linear decrease in immunity though - certain tools that your immune system uses like antibodies decrease over time but other tools like T-cell responses are long lasting. Thinking of it in terms of an acute response where you're very strongly protected and a persistent response where you have a slower but still effective protection is a better model.
AlgorithmicTime 4y ago
itronitron 4y ago
That's one of those sciencey articles that is only technically correct within a specific context, otherwise why are elderly people advised to get the flu vaccine every year?

3 ms·

I think this is based on a misinterpretation of the hygiene hypothesis... exposure to germs helps when you're a child yourself but not after becoming an adult (

by rendaw 4y ago

SirMaster 4y ago
But don't parents getting sick at work and bringing it home to their kids help the kids get exposed? Or do you think kids get enough exposure at school? (assuming schools don't keep going remote too)
- dotnet00 4y ago
  Based on how consistently my niece has been sick since starting school this year, I'd say they get enough exposure at school.
tuyiown 4y ago
I understand I have no authority on the subject, but, aren't we well aware that immunity wears off at different rates depending on the strain ? A lot of sickness only affect the children, and once for their lifetime, but there is at least covid for we know the immunity wears off. Surely there are many others. edit: I suspect the article only states that life long immunity does not wears off. I don't challenge that at all.
- ryanbrunner 4y ago
  This isn't really as simple as a linear decrease in immunity though - certain tools that your immune system uses like antibodies decrease over time but other tools like T-cell responses are long lasting. Thinking of it in terms of an acute response where you're very strongly protected and a persistent response where you have a slower but still effective protection is a better model.
AlgorithmicTime 4y ago
itronitron 4y ago
That's one of those sciencey articles that is only technically correct within a specific context, otherwise why are elderly people advised to get the flu vaccine every year?