Sent from a doctor:

We know from basic immunology that when the body is exposed to a pathogen, the immune system will respond. This includes the acute response to produce killer cells that attack and will eliminate the invader. It also consists of the memory cells that remain dormant in the body so that if the bad guy returns, they will quickly recognize him and round up the killer cell troops again.

The mRNA vaccines create antibodies to the spike protein of the SARS COV2 virus. These antibodies peak and are hopefully effective during that peak (called into question big time recently). When they wane, their efficacy dissipates and hence the thought of needing boosters. Unlike other types of vaccines, these shots do not produce long-term immunity.

Being infected and recovering from COVID-19, the disease caused by SARS COV2, looks like it provides natural immunity. Multiple reports show that re-infection is extremely rare and the symptoms are minimized if it does occur. Furthermore, those who are recovered and have this natural immunity are not affected nearly as much during the recent surge as those who received the vaccine.

This study from Emory looked at 254 people who had recovered from COVID 19 and showed excellent antibody responses at 8 months. Included was a great memory B cell response which would indicate long-term protection against re-infection. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8253687/

This paper out of Duke looked at persons recovered from SARS COV1 and found that an antibody response was still present 17 years after being infected. Further, they found that these cells also recognized parts of SARS COV2. This is proof that the immune response is long-lasting and may overlap with other coronavirus variants. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-020-2550-z.pdf

This study from Washington University looked at bone marrow plasma cells, the ones who lay dormant in our bodies waiting for a repeat offender to attack us again. Patients recovered from COVID 19 voluntarily underwent a bone marrow aspirate. Analysis of the bone marrow cells indicated a robust response in the memory B cells specific to COVID 19. This would indicate lasting natural immunity. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-021-03647-4.pdf

An NIH write-up indicated that persons previously infected with COVID 19 had lasting immunity at eight months after infection. The vaccines are currently not holding up even close to this standard. https://www.nih.gov/news-events/nih-research-matters/lasting-immunity-found-after-recovery-covid-19

Data from Israel where reporting is very robust and vaccines were highly mandated are questioning the need to vaccinate those patients who have recovered from COVID 19. https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.04.20.21255670v1.full.pdf

This paper out of Johns Hopkins (and others) shows a robust antibody response to the spike and N proteins (not only spike) in COVID 19 recovered patients at ten months. Again the shots being given are not lasting this long. Also, bear in mind that this does not consider the memory cells' ability to mount another response in the future if needed. Natural immunity looks to produce an immune response to more than just the spike protein, which may be more effective. https://www.thelancet.com/action/showPdf?pii=S2589-5370(21)00182-6

This Cleveland Clinic study looked at over 50,000 employees in their health system and found that those recovered from COVID-19 did not become re-infected. Over 2,500 of these recovered patients did not receive the COVID 19 vaccine, and none of them were re-infected in this study. They concluded that those recovered from COVID 19 do not need the shot.

Thank you,