Just to clear up some misinformation here. "Immunity" based on a high antibody titer is presumed for most diseases whether the antibodies were elicited via natural infection or vaccination. I have some epidemiology experience and personally think those with demonstrated high covid antibody titers following natural infection do not need the vaccine, but also doesn't hurt to err on the safe side, so I'd stick with current guidelines.
T cells are not routinely measured (counted actually) in evaluating covid immunity, it's the amount of antibodies they produce that is measured. As an aside, TCell quantity are measured in HIV treatment, since those cells are what that virus attacks, which is why it is so insidious by debilitating antibody production against a broad spectrum of diseases.
Originally Posted by reddog1951
This is second hand and anecdotal, but good friends of family members came down with COVID twice. Both live in the UK. One thinks she came down with the UK variant the second time around and the other knows he did, as a result of testing. The man who was in his 40’s and in excellent physical condition had it really rough the second time. He was in the hospital for a couple of weeks.
The Pfizer vaccine at least appears to be effective against the variants. I wonder if it’s potentially a lot more effective than a previous infection, if you’re looking at a variant or different variant with the second infection. Any thoughts?
And second question, who besides Rand Paul is going to get tested for antibody levels after an infection? Do you go back and get tested again every year or so? Wouldn’t it be simpler just to get the vaccine, and get boosters if they’re recommended?