Thread by @thehowie

CDC quietly released this VERY consummate REVIEW (not new study) of existing evidence about vaccine-acquired & infection acquired immunity.

It is a VERY good summary and everyone should read it.

Key points in this thread. 1/7

cdc.gov/coronavirus/20…

Love that they start with humility. Everyone should feel this way. Most don't.

"New data continue to emerge, and recommendations (the science brief, this webpage, etc.) will be updated periodically, as needed."
2/7

"...fully vaccinated individuals and those previously infected with SARS-CoV-2 each have a low risk of subsequent infection for at least 6 months."

More people need to acknowledge this. 3/7

There is incomplete information as to what antibody titer confers INDIVIDUAL immunity. So if you trying to use antibody titers to determine whether you should or should not get a booster or initial vaccination, you may be misled. 4/7

"..completion of a primary vaccine series, especially with mRNA vaccines, typically leads to a more consistent & higher-titer initial antibody response [than infection-acquired immunity].

(For those in back row, STOP saying that infection acquired immunity is better...)

5/7

Because of the observational nature of the data collection (i.e., we have not done the rigorous RCT as we have with vaccines), our knowledge of infection-acquired immunity is MUCH more limited and, potentially, biased by case presentation (symptomatic, etc.). 6/7

"Substantial immunologic evidence and a growing body of epidemiologic evidence indicate that vaccination after infection significantly enhances protection and further reduces risk of reinfection, which lays the foundation for CDC recommendations." 7/end