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Data Humanist's avatar

Right. If our blood contained all the antibodies from our previous infections, we'd be dead because our blood would be a useless protein sludge.

I never got how counting antibodies from vaccine targeting a functionally extinct virus variant was proof of anything relevant.

Moreover, if the immune system is working, it will create memory T & B cells. You will be able to quickly generate what you need. No matter. I recently "lost" this argument with a family member who had 2 shots, a booster, got Covid and recovered and hence has robust natural immunity, but now insists on getting boosted for an upcoming trip to keep his antibody levels up.

A decent discussion here from 2020, prior to Omicron variant(s) and all the confirmatory data about natural immunity: https://theconversation.com/coronavirus-b-cells-and-t-cells-explained-141888

Extended quote: "recent research from the Karolinska Institute in Sweden showed that several COVID patients with mild to no symptoms had generated T cells against the virus. This was even the case in patients who had no detectable levels of antibodies against the virus. ....

How long antibodies stick around for varies from one pathogen to another. ...

... antibodies to COVID may not last very long. But this does not exclude the existence of memory T and B cells, capable of re-emerging from their dormant states to protect against re-infection. In other words, the antibodies that B cells make during initial exposure disappear in a few weeks, but the memory cells generated as a consequence of this persist for much longer."

But when it comes to family members, I am just letting go and giving up. Covid will be around for at least as long as our species. But since Omicron onwards the mortality risk has been greatly reduced. If adults want to keep getting boosted, go ahead. Pathogen prime yourself. But, no, we should not be imposing this madness on children.

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Al X G's avatar

FDA = Fraudulent Disseminators of Anti-science

NIH = Never Investigate Honestly

CDC = Corrupt Data Cookers

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