Natural immunity from individuals previously infected with COVID-19 showed stronger levels of protection against the Delta variant than the vaccine, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) revealed in a study on Wednesday.
According to the study, the natural immunity’s protection against the Delta variant was stronger than natural immunity against the earlier form of the virus.
CDC: Vaccinated Americans with a prior Covid infection fared the best during the Delta outbreak https://t.co/7z5wGeBkPW @ErinBanco
โ Adriel Bettelheim (@abettel) January 19, 2022
The Biden administration has often downplayed natural immunity in its push to increase vaccination rates among Americans. This study shows that at least with the Delta variant, natural immunity may be more effective than the vaccines.
The authors of the study continued to encourage vaccination despite the study’s results.
“A Covid vaccination helps protect by creating an antibody response without the person having to experience severe illness and death,” Benjamin Silk, a CDC scientist and one of the authors, said. “Vaccination provides safer protection.”
From the timing, this is largely about delta varianthttps://t.co/CzbTnpxgy9
โ Joe Pendleton (@LaughingTroll1) January 12, 2022
The new study will certain boost the value of the natural immunity view of the virus, though the CDC may not change its recommendations based on the new information.