For the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic began, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has weighed in on whether a person is more protected from the virus if they have had it or if they get a vaccination to avoid it.
According to the agency, while both infection-induced and vaccine-induced immunity last for at least six months, the bigger boost in antibodies and more lasting protection come from vaccines.
Dr. Rhonda Achonolu comforts her son Amechi, 7, as he is inoculated with first dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for children 5 to 11 years old at The Children’s Hospital at Montefiore, Wednesday, Nov. 3, 2021, in the Bronx borough of New York.
Twins Ryann, left, and Jamie Onofrio Franceschini, 11, pose for a photo with Covid-19 vaccine stickers after being inoculated with the first dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for children five to 12 years at The Children’s Hospital at Montefiore, Wednesday, Nov. 3, 2021, in the Bronx borough of New York.
Carter Giglio, 8, joined by service dog Barney of Hero Dogs, shows off the bandaid over his injection site after being vaccinated, Wednesday, Nov. 3, 2021, at Children’s National Hospital in Washington.
Carter Giglio, 8, hugs Dr. Bear before being vaccinated, Wednesday, Nov. 3, 2021, at Children’s National Hospital in Washington.
Finn Washburn, 9, shows his vaccination site as his mother, Kate Elsley, takes a photo shortly after he received a Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine in San Jose, Calif., on Wednesday, Nov. 3, 2021.
Kidney transplant patient Sophia Silvaamaya, 5, held by her father Pedro Silvaamaya, is vaccinated by nurse Kelly Vanderwende, Wednesday, Nov. 3, 2021, at Children’s National Hospital in Washington.
Matthew Yip, 8, waits in line to receive a Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine in San Jose, Calif., on Wednesday, Nov. 3, 2021.
A bandage is placed on Mackenzie Olson, 10, after receiving her COVID-19 vaccination at a pediatrician’s office on Wednesday, Nov. 3, 2021, in Decatur, Ga.
An excited Cate Zeigler-Amon, 10, hangs out of the car as she waits with her mom, Sara Zeigler, to receive her first dose of COVID-19 vaccine at the Viral Solutions vaccination and testing site in Decatur, Ga., on the first day COVID-19 vaccinations were available for children from 5 to 11 on Wednesday, Nov. 3, 2021.
A vial of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for children 5 to 12 years old is shown at the Viral Solutions vaccination and testing site in Decatur, Ga., Wednesday, Nov. 3, 2021.
Leah Lefkove, 9, shows off her vaccination sticker just before being the first child to be vaccinated at the Viral Solutions vaccination and testing site in Decatur, Ga., on the first day COVID-19 vaccinations were available for children from 5 to 11 on Wednesday, Nov. 3, 2021.
Dr. Rhonda Achonolu comforts her son Kenechi, 9, as he is inoculated with first dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for children 5 to 11 years old at The Children’s Hospital at Montefiore, Wednesday, Nov. 3, 2021, in the Bronx borough of New York.
Jill Holm-Denoma, left, holds her nearly 6-year-old son, Tyler, as he receives a COVID-19 vaccination from Emily Cole, a registered nurse at National Jewish Health, during the pediatric vaccine rollout Wednesday, Nov. 3, 2021, in east Denver.
This October 2021 photo provided by Pfizer shows kid-size doses of its COVID-19 vaccine in Puurs, Belgium.
Mackenzie Olson, 10, awaits her COVID-19 vaccination as her mother, Christine Olson, fills out paperwork at a pediatrician’s office on Wednesday, Nov. 3, 2021, in Decatur, Ga.
A child’s dose of the COVID-19 vaccination is shown, Wednesday, Nov. 3, 2021, at Children’s National Hospital in Washington.
Audrey Onaissi receives an injection of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine in San Jose, Calif., on Wednesday, Nov. 3, 2021, as her sister Ava Onaissi, 8, waits her turn.
An RN holds a vial with the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for children five to 12 years at The Children’s Hospital at Montefiore, Wednesday, Nov. 3, 2021, in the Bronx borough of New York.
CDC scientists in the report released on Friday said the research confirms that vaccination provides a “higher, more robust, and more consistent level of immunity to protect people from COVID-19 than infection alone.”
“We now have additional evidence that reaffirms the importance of COVID-19 vaccines, even if you have had prior infection,” CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said in a statement.
“This study adds more to the body of knowledge demonstrating the protection of vaccines against severe disease from COVID-19.”
The study, released Friday, did note that the evidence for infection-induced immunity is more limited than that for vaccine-induced immunity. Researchers also said that “a growing body of epidemiologic evidence indicate that vaccination after infection significantly enhances protection and further reduces risk of reinfection.”
“In studies directly comparing risk of reinfection among previously infected individuals who were never vaccinated versus individuals who were vaccinated after infection, most, but not all, studies show a benefit of vaccination,” the CDC report said.
Studies including more than 728,000 health system users in Israel and more than 11,000 healthcare workers in India reported that a history of prior infection with the COVID-19 virus “provided greater protection from subsequent infection than vaccination alone, but overall risk of infection was lowest among those that were vaccinated following infection during periods of Delta predominance.”
Just what level of protection a person acquires after either an infection or a vaccination varies, the agency reported. Currently, there is no FDA-authorized test for doctors’ offices or home use to measure the level of protection a person has.
The study looked at more than 7,000 people in nine states and 187 hospitals. It compared those who were unvaccinated and had contracted the COVID-19 virus in the last three to six months to those who were vaccinated over the same time period.
Another study released by the agency on Friday showed similar results to the report. According to that study, people registered a higher level of protection from vaccines than from a previous infection alone.
