Health Department Says Natural Infections Provide Superior Immunity — But Not for COVID-19

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services says natural infection “almost always” is a far better form of immunity than a vaccine. But it doesn’t allow people to cite it as a reason to receive an exemption from COVID-19 vaccination requirements.

The department states on its website that vaccines are not required for school-age children if they have a documented immunity. Another department page notes, “It is true that natural infection almost always causes better immunity than vaccines.” It adds, “Vaccines cause less serious risks but, like natural infection, induce long-lived immunity.”

But the department takes another approach when it comes to the coronavirus. It says, “There is not enough information currently available to say if or for how long after infection someone is protected from getting COVID-19 again; this is called natural immunity. Early evidence suggests natural immunity from COVID-19 may not last very long, but more studies are needed to better understand this.”

Michigan State University follows the health department’s recommendations on COVID-19. In August, it was sued in federal court by an employee for not allowing natural immunity to serve an exemption to its requirement that staff and students receive the vaccination.

A ruling on the case is pending.