IT frustrates me that more than a few people I know have declined vaccination against SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19 infection.
Such decisions are often borne out of mistrust driven by conspiracy theories – and it’s a tragedy because lives will be impaired or lost because we, as medics, haven’t managed to convey what our education and experience taught us: the vaccine saves lives.
Some of those who choose to decline vaccination do so because they’ve had the infection and they assume that the immunity they derived from that will protect them against re-infection.
But while there is a degree of immunity to another attack, this isn’t strong or long lasting. This is because, like the flu virus, SARS-CoV-2 mutates – and this can strengthen it, so it sidesteps the acquired immunity.
New research, in the Lancet Infectious Diseases, shows vaccination plus previous infection is the best possible protection against re-infection – known as hybrid immunity.
The message here is, do not decline booster jabs, even when you’ve had a Covid-19 infection. It literally does save lives.
© Solo dmg media
