Comment by charbonneau2 | Hacker News Reader

Comment by charbonneau2 | Hacker News Reader

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> Seems to underscore my point that the available information about immunity longevity is mixed at best

The currently available information shows mixed evidence. But the vaccine campaign began in December/January 2021. Back then, BioNTech's CEO believed the protective effect would last "for at least a year"[1] (Booster shots gained traction in April/May [2], though they were mainly presented as a way to protect against new variants, not waning immunity in general).

Waning immunity was never really a topic (until now). You can also see its complete disregard in the "EU Digital COVID Certificate" [3]. Recovered persons are exempt from restrictions for 180 days, fully vaccinated persons indefinitely.

[1] https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-vaccin...

[2] https://www.cnbc.com/2021/04/15/pfizer-ceo-says-third-covid-...

[3] https://ec.europa.eu/info/live-work-travel-eu/coronavirus-re...

> But the vaccine campaign began in December/January 2021. Back then, BioNTech's CEO believed the protective effect would last "for at least a year"

Being "optimistic that the immunisation effect can last for at least a year," (CEO's words) is a lot different than claiming that the vaccine is a "cure" which will last forever, as the person I was originally responding to was claiming we were told.

Claiming that we should be "optimistic that the immunisation effect can last for at least a year," does not mean or imply that we should never have expected or ever require booster shots.

Claiming that we should be "optimistic that the immunisation effect can last for at least a year," does not speak to the durability of that immunization over the course of that first year.

People are not being advised to get boosters because their immunity is completely gone after 6 months. Many around the world will probably be waiting "at least a year" for their boosters and will have some useful level of immunity all the way up to that booster. Exactly how much is still TBD.

> Waning immunity was never really a topic

While the mainstream media may not have focused on it, "waning immunity" was a consideration from the get-go for anyone with a basic understanding of virology, vaccines or anyone who chose to be informed.

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