What about immunity?

Why are we not talking about immunity?

Some percentage of the population that is unvaccinated against COVID-19 has been infected with COVID-19. Many of them have been sick, and many of them have been asymptomatic. These folks have some degree of immunity against COVID-19. There is a lot we still don’t know about natural immunity but one study in Israel suggests that it is at least as good as vaccination in preventing transmission and re-infection.

Mandates are the issue that has so many folks in an uproar. Being told by an employer or by a government that you MUST get a vaccine in order to work, conflicts with libertarian values of choice.

If the point of vaccine mandates is to protect the public at large, then why not accept natural immunity as an alternative to receiving a vaccine.

I am not suggesting that people should go out and try to get COVID. That would be irresponsible and counterproductive. But a large number of people have already had COVID, have not had the vaccine, and for a myriad of reasons are refusing to do so. It would require periodic blood tests which would have a cost, but why not let them prove immunity and get back to work.

Constance J. Brumm, M.D.

Moscow