cesco.g

Having a friend who recovered from Covid more than six months ago, he is not too keen to get vaccinated at this time given reports ranging from "must vaccinate" to "lifetime immunity", eg many unknowns & opinions out there. Since he has some travel plans to countries outside the US, he was wondering what the experience of others in such a situation might be.

Feel free to also discuss pros & cons of vaccination for recovered persons in general - an interesting subject in itself.

Hezu

If it is already more than six months from the recovery from COVID-19 and no vaccinations, then I presume most countries will treat the person like anybody else that does not have been vaccinated. Thus there can be restrictions on where such persons can arrive (and on what grounds), obligatory testing almost certainly (possibly both before you depart and after arrival) and maybe a quarantine before you can freely roam around the country.

seanp7

GET VACCINATED. Simple.

outgoing

By refusing the vaccine your friend is putting themselves and other in their community in danger. There are reports showing stronger protection from vaccination than from infection and this is one reason for why we vax people who recovered. When it comes to travel they will be treated in some countries as someone who is not protected i.e., subject to restrictions (including barred from entering).

SanDiego1K

My understanding as a non scientist is that having covid gives you protection from the variant that you had but not the broad range of variants that now occur. Only a vaccination does that. A friend had covid in February, right before vaccinations opened for his age range. I won't go into all the challenges it has given him, only to say that 5 months on, he continues to have covid fog. He has gotten the vaccination (both shots). It was a tough day or two after each shot because he did already have some antibodies but he feels strongly that he needed to do so. From a pragmatic standpoint, as travelers it's important to have the vaccine. Many countries are now requiring it for entry. I saw a report just yesterday that we will be able to enter Canada with proof of vaccine come mid August.

LWkitty

While there are some countries that treat a person recovered from Covid within the last 3-6 months the same as fully vaccinated in terms of entry requirements, everything I've read cuts it off no more than 6 months. Therefore, your friend will be considered no different than anyone else who is not vaccinated. They need to research which counties allow non vaccinated tourists, and what the entry requirements are (e.g. negative Covid test), and plan to visit one of those places.

craigthemif

International travel will require vaccination for the foreseeable future. If you want to travel, you get the shots.

That will only change when nearly everybody gets their vaccines too, and stops trying to piggyback on the efforts of the responsible part of society.

cesco.g

Interesting, Denmark recognizes 12-months post-Covid recovery:

"People previously infected with COVID-19 must therefore be able to present documentation showing a positive PCR test taken at least 14 days and no more than twelve months prior to boarding the aircraft and prior to the time of entry in order to be eligible.

https://en.coronasmitte.dk/rules-and...ts-upon-entry?

MaxVO

The best strategy is getting vaccinated and all booster shots as they are produced. There's no "lifetime immunity" due to virus mutations. If someone has recovered from the original Wuhan variety, their resistance to the current Delta variety is less than half. It's also best to get the boosters quick -- otherwise the virus will mutate again, and we'll be chasing that process forever.

cesco.g

Natural immunity - data from Israel :

https://newsrescue.com/delta-variant...li-govt-shows/

annihilation

Are you saying this because you think its the right thing or that its the best "strategy" to be allow to travel? Even the later is absolutely untrue, they want last dose within 180 days, some versions aren't approved, you can still get COVID and transmit. Vaccination is doing nothing to reduce cases or transmission. Considering a lot of people with co-mobitities died over the past two winters, I am still unsold on the "protection" this will afford anyone.

I think considering the OP, I too would question the need to get vaccinated now and would suggest most countries are allowing a negative test if they are allowing travel at all. I would stick with that as the immediate strategy.

Temedar

Conveniently not mentioning what group do those who have both been previously infected AND vaccinated fall into.

8420PR

The link you posted is purposely mis-representing the facts - I assume with the agenda to get people to avoid vaccination.

Here is an example of much better journalism, with links to scientific papers:
https://theconversation.com/delta-va...navirus-164203

In summary: vaccination is a much more reliable way to avoid serious covid infections, compared purely to previous infections. Vaccination and previous infection provides the best prevention.

SanDiego1K

I found this very improbable so forwarded the link to a friend in the medical field. He did a bit of digging and said:

"It was this statement in the lead paragraph of the article that tipped me off . . .

"If you speak to any man on the street, they will tell you, based on every censored article they read online, that. . . "


https://mediabiasfactcheck.com/news-rescue/


News Rescue is an anonymously run Nigerian news and opinion website. They completely lack transparency as they do not have an about page, name editors or owners.

News Rescue reports news summaries and commentary on Nigerian and international news. Articles and headlines often contain loaded emotional wording. . .

News Rescue frequently promotes conspiracy theories regarding Covid-19 as well anti-vaccination misinformation. They also routinely source conspiracy website Zerohedge for stories. In general, story selection favors the right and sometimes is not factual.


There is no indication this is true. “Sounds like conspiracy anti-vax .........”

Deckter

Vaccines are absolutely reducing transmission.