I realize this is a very controversial topic and before I begin, I want to say that I understand and sympathize with those that want everyone to get vaccinated to "get back to normal", and I also understand and sympathize with everyone who believes it is a personal decision for themselves and their families.
French fries. 🍟
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We enjoy them as a side to our meal, or sometimes even enjoy them as our main course. The crunchy exterior with a light, soft interior makes it one of the most popular foods around the world. They come in all shapes and flavors, from curly, to waffle, spicy, crinkle cut, wedges, to home fries and even tator tots. French fries are so versatile, that we have found many different ways to cook and season them.
Throughout the many different ways French fries are prepared however, they all have one thing in common. Underneath it all, they are made of potatoes and oil.
| The SARS-CoV-2 Virus is the same. |  |
|---|---|
| Source: Image location |
Outside of the SARS-CoV-2 Virus, are Spike Proteins. Antibodies to the spike proteins are produced after vaccination, and changes to these spike proteins are the part of the virus that create different strains. Vaccines to spike proteins are successful when the spike proteins remain relatively the same. However, the Covid-19 vaccines have shown to be effective even against the different strains of Covid-19.
Within the virus is its protein. When someone is infected naturally with Covid-19, they develop antibodies to the protein (Nucleocapsid) that binds to the nucleic acid (viral RNA) of the virus. In this case, it does not matter if there are different variations of the virus, because the Nucleocapsid remains the same.
Research on immunity to the Covid-19 vaccine through natural infection is limited, and the CDC and the FDA seem to contradict themselves on this idea.
| According to the Center for Disease Control: | |
| "Active immunity results when exposure to a disease organism triggers the immune system to produce antibodies to that disease. Exposure to the disease organism can occur through infection with the actual disease (resulting in natural immunity), or introduction of a killed or weakened form of the disease organism through vaccination (vaccine-induced immunity). Either way, if an immune person comes into contact with that disease in the future, their immune system will recognize it and immediately produce the antibodies needed to fight it. Active immunity is long-lasting, and sometimes life-long." | |
| Source: CDC Vaccine Immunity Types |
When asked if those that who have already contracted Covid-19 should get the vaccine, the CDC states the following:
"Yes, you should be vaccinated regardless of whether you already had COVID-19 because:
- Research has not yet shown how long you are protected from getting COVID-19 again after you recover from COVID-19.
- Vaccination helps protect you even if you’ve already had COVID-19.
- Evidence is emerging that people get better protection by being fully vaccinated compared with having had COVID-19.|
- Vaccination helps protect you even if you’ve already had COVID-19.
- One Study showed that unvaccinated people who already had COVID-19 are more than 2 times as likely than fully vaccinated people to get COVID-19 again."
| Source: CDC FAQ |
|---|
However, the study the CDC sources as evidence that unvaccinated people who already had COVID-19 are more than 2 times as likely than fully vaccinated people to get COVID-19, was a study done in the state of Kentucky with a small previously infected population of 246 over a 2 month period.
The study itself says the following:
"Persons who have been vaccinated are possibly less likely to get tested. Therefore, the association of reinfection and lack of vaccination might be overestimated."
This is a retrospective study design using data from a single state during a 2-month period; therefore, these findings cannot be used to infer causation. Additional prospective studies with larger populations are warranted to support these findings."
Let me repeat that
"Association of reinfection and lack of vaccination might be overestimated"
"These findings cannot be used to infer causation. Additional prospective studies with larger populations are warranted to support these findings."
Furthermore, the study has a small sample size of 246. In order for the p value to be statistically significant, a sample size of unvaccinated individual's must have been over 384. The author of the study realized this, leaving the p value out of the odds ratio so as to not show that the study may be inaccurate.
Therefore, the study should not be used by the CDC to state that those with prior infection should be vaccinated.
Additionally, right now, the CDC is saying that if you received the vaccine, its suggested you get a booster shot every 8 months.
- But what about those that have had COVID-19 through natural infection?
- Do they still need a booster shot?
A recent study shows that those that have previously had a COVID-19 infection, and received the vaccine, demonstrate 'superhuman' immunity.
This is because their bodies have already developed antibodies to COVID-19's protein (Nucleocapsid).
The Potato 🥔 within the French Fry 🍟
In March of 2020, my wife called me while I was at work, telling me that she could barely move, she was throwing up and she couldn't stay awake. I left work early, and when I got home, my wife slept for days. My 3 month old daughter and 3 year old son at the time also go sick, with my 3 month old needing to be taken to urgent care. At that time, doctors were unable to determine what we had, and for weeks after, my wife had shortness of breath, muscle aches and fatigue.
In November of 2020 I started to feel very ill, and so I went to get tested for COVID-19 and tested positive. I had lost 6 pounds that week and slept for 5 days. My wife and kids however, vomited and had diarrhea for 1 day, followed by a cough and shortness of breath for a couple of days. For the entire week I was sick, they were not showing severe symptoms like I was. After that week, I had a cough that persisted for months, and my sense of taste and smell was gone during the most important time of the year, Thanksgiving and Christmas.
What had happened?
It is possible that when my family had gotten sick in March of 2020, they had a severe case of the virus. Because I did not get as sick as they did, I did not develop Nucleocapsid antibodies. In November of 2020, since my family already had a severe case of COVID-19, and developed SARS COV2 Nucleocapsid antibodies, they were able to fight off the virus.
Since I did not have a severe case of COVID-19 in March, my body reacted differently.
When I spoke to the Department of Health over the phone the following week, they told me that my family was assumed positive for November 2020, and since we had the same symptoms from March of 2020, we were all assumed positive then too.
My symptoms persisted for months, and for most of 2021, Coke and Pepsi tasted like cleaning fluid to me. Dunkin Donuts coffee tasted like burnt toast, and most food tasted bland to me unless I poured hot sauce on it.
The Test 🧪
10 months later, on September 1st, 2021, I decided to get an antibody test.
I spoke to my primary care who was reluctant to administer the test, but through some convincing, I was able to schedule it.
I received my results the following day and I have tested positive for SARS COV2 IgG Ab Nucleocapsid Qualitative.
10 months after having COVID-19, I still show immunity without a vaccine or booster shot.
I now have a letter from my primary care stating I tested positive for SARS COV2 IgG Ab Nucleocapsid Qualitative on 9/1/2021.
Although the FDA states that these results should not be interpreted as an indication of immunity or protection from reinfection, the same can be said for those that have taken the COVID-19 vaccine. They can still get and spread COVID-19. https://www.fda.gov/media/137381/download
- Will the government treat this the same as those that have been vaccinated?
- Will they finally warrant looking into this with a large scale study?
This is the elephant in the room. 🐘
We should be talking about this, because other countries are.
Israel has just published an article stating that previous COVID infection prevents delta infection better than the Pfizer shot.
With many healthcare workers being exposed to COVID-19 on the front lines, and over 40 million cases of COVID-19 infections, we should be talking about, and taking into account natural immunity of COVID-19.
With the current trend shifting towards private employers of more than 100 employees mandating vaccines or weekly tests, those that previously had or had been exposed to COVID-19, and still show immunity without receiving the vaccine, should have a voice.
And we just might.
A law professor at George Mason University was granted a medical exemption by the school due to his natural immunity.
The Association of American Physicians and Surgeons have also issued a statement.
Will we have more cases like this?
In summary, no matter how you season or cook a French Fry, it's foundation is still potatoes and oil. 🥔
SARS COV2 Nucleocapsid remains the same throughout the different strains.
I want to thank @scienceblocks for correcting the article. The article has now been updated to say that:
nucleocapsid is a protein that binds to nucleic acid (viral RNA in this case). The antibodies you have are against that protein not the viral DNA.
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