Scientists claim that Covid is a form of super immunity.
Experts from Oregon Health and Science University claim the same for those who are infected prior to receiving their second jabs.
Three strains of coronavirus were exposed to more than 100 volunteers who had been fully vaccinated by academics.
Tests showed that volunteers with hybrid immunity had an “amazingly high” antibody response.
They were 10x more powerful than the proteins produced by those who had managed to avoid Covid entirely.
Although the Omicron variant was not yet known, Omicron researchers believe that their findings can be used to support the original study.
The researchers believe the increased protection of hybrid immune patients could make this a milder virus and end the current pandemic.
Author Dr Fikadu Tafesse said: ‘It makes no difference whether you get infected-and-then-vaccinated, or if you get vaccinated-and-then-a-breakthrough infection.
‘In either case, you will get a really, really robust immune response – amazingly high.’
He stated that the likelihood of getting breakthrough infection is high as there are so many viruses around right now.
But we are better prepared by getting vaccines. We will have super immunity if we get the virus.
Scientists at Oregon Health and Science University claim that fully-vaccinated individuals who have caught Covid (shown below, left) either before or after being jabbed get’super immunity. Pictured right: vaccine stock image
Scientists took samples of blood from 104 University employees double-jabbed for Pfizer.
Based on previous infections, volunteers were split into three different groups. Forty-two participants had never tested positive.
Each of them had been infected with the coronavirus either before or after they received their vaccines.
Experts exposed the blood of three Covid variants to their bodies.
The results — which mirror previous findings by the same team — were published in Science Immunology.
Antibodies are linked to immunity against Covid infections, according to Immunologists.
They aren’t a reliable way to measure immunity, as other components of the immune system can also protect against it.
Antibodies stop infection by attacking and stopping the virus from infecting cells.
However, T cells have the ability to kill infected cells and identify them so that they can stop spreading. This white blood cell protection is thought to last longer than antibodies that fade in a matter of months.
The study was completed before Omicron was first detected in November — but the scientists expect that the immune response to the new variant will be similar.
Researchers also did not compare the antibody levels of triple-jabbed and hybrid immune subjects.
But the findings could mean that every new breakthrough infection — when people test positive despite being vaccinated — ‘potentially brings the pandemic closer to the end’, the team said.
Fellow researcher Dr Bill Messer said: ‘I would expect at this point many vaccinated people are going to wind up with breakthrough infections – and hence a form of hybrid immunity.’
Marcel Curlin (study author, infectious disease expert) said that these results and previous research point to the possibility of SARS-CoV-2 becoming a mild endemic infection, like a seasonal respiratory infection, rather than a global pandemic.
They warned, however that people who have not been vaccinated are more likely to contract Covid multiple time and that their immune responses can be’much less variable’.
The team stated that some people will have ‘equivalent immunity’ to vaccines, while others will not. Laboratory tests aren’t able to determine how strong an individual’s immunity is.
Dr Curlin said: ‘Immunity from natural infection alone is variable. Some people have a stronger immune response than others.
“But, vaccinations combined with immunity against infection almost always provide very strong responses.”