How Does Getting Breakthrough COVID Affect Immunity?
With the highly contagious Omicron strain of COVID-10 running rampant, the number of breakthrough cases continues to rise. Breakthrough COVID infections occur when someone who has been fully vaccinated against COVID catches it. According to a study published by the Oregon Health and Science University, breakthrough infections enhance the immune response provided by the vaccine. The researchers continue to add that their findings suggest that the immune response is highly likely to be effective against other variants that may arise as the virus continues to mutate.
Senior Author Fikadu Tafesse, Ph.D., assistant professor of molecular biology and immunology at the OHSU School of Medicine stated “These vaccines are very effective against severe disease. Our study suggests that individuals who are vaccinated and then exposed to a breakthrough infection have super immunity.”
This study found that antibodies found in the blood samples of individuals who had breakthrough COVID cases were not only more abundant but also more effective than just the antibodies after receiving a vaccination. The data shows that vaccinated people who have a breakthrough infection may leave with a stronger immunity.
Other experts also say that if you are a healthy individual, there is less likelihood of getting sick again after infection for about 3 to 6 months, some even longer. Data gathered during the Omicron surge shows that fully vaccinated and boosted people are significantly less likely to be infected than the unvaccinated and breakthrough cases that do occur are mild.
Although the natural immunity you receive through getting COVID is substantial, this does not negate the need to get vaccinated. Vaccination is a much safer way to protect yourself against COVID, and if you were to be infected after receiving a vaccination, the severity of illness will be lowered exponentially and protect you from hospitalization or death. There is also more predictability with infection induced immunity because not everyone will show the same immune response; one person may have many antibodies created after infection, while another may generate only a few.
Both vaccine induced and infection induced immunity will wane over time, making neither a permanent solution. However, early studies have shown that the booster provides longer lasting immunity than the initial vaccine alone, says Dr. Abinash Virk, an infectious disease physician at the Mayo Clinic.
While either type of acquired immunity is good, it is still best to continue to practice safety precautions against COVID-19 as others in your community may be vulnerable for severe COVID infection
https://time.com/6140281/covid-19-immunity-boosted-infected-safety/
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/19/well/live/breakthrough-covid-immunity.html
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