Thread by @Friedemann1

Interesting article about incomplete immune protection after virus infection. Bottom line: getting herd immunity by herd infection is impossible as only people with severe systemic disease get profound immunity. Vacination does not have this problem 1/8
journals.plos.org/plospathogens/…

"It is often messaged that herd immunity to...SARS-CoV2 ...will protect nonvaccinated individuals...
However, seasonal CoVs...remain endemic...
If immunity to SARS-CoV-2 and seasonal CoVs are similar, COVID-19 herd immunity is a pipe dream" 2/8

"Absent effective herd immunity, over the next few years, individuals can choose whether their first exposure to SARS-CoV-2 immunogens occurs via vaccination or infection..." 3/8

☝is actually well known in virology:
"Coronaviruses are hardly unique in their ability to reinfect humans. Infection with none of the common endemic human respiratory viruses consistently induces durable immunity" 4/8

"...immune memory routinely fails to control viral reinfections on mucosae." (Note: its about immunity after infection not after vaccination)" 5/8

"evolution may have focused antiviral immunity on preventing virus dissemination via body fluids rather than blocking mucosal infection." 6/8

"While vaccines are unlikely to provide long-lasting sterilizing immunity to CoV-2, they should durably reduce viral replication in the upper airway and prevent, or at least attenuate, pulmonary disease and virus transmission" 7/8

"Further, vaccines should be highly effective at preventing pathogenicity resulting from viremia, which includes intestinal and renal dysfunction, systemic hypercoagulation, and endothelial inflammation." 8/8