7. Natural immunity is safer and more effective
As children are at minimal risk of serious illness from Covid-19, there is a strong case for letting their own innate immune system fight off any infection. [1] [2]
Natural immunity is likely to last longer than a vaccine, and cover a broader range of variants. It will also benefit the wider population, contributing to herd immunity against all variants of the virus. [3] [4] [5] [6]
The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has stated:
“It is estimated that over 85% of all children aged 5 to 11 will have had prior SARS-CoV-2 infection by the end of January 2022 (reference 5), with roughly half of these infections due to the Omicron variant. Natural immunity arising from prior infection will contribute towards protection against future infection and severe disease.” [7]
Check our references for the above statements:
[1] https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-021-22036-z
[2] https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-021-03207-w
[3] https://www.bmj.com/content/370/bmj.m3563
[4] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32668444/
[5] https://www.cell.com/cell/fulltext/S0092-8674(20)30610-3
[6] https://brownstone.org/articles/79-research-studies-affirm-naturally-acquired-immunity-to-covid-19-documented-linked-and-quoted/
[7] https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/jcvi-update-on-advice-for-covid-19-vaccination-of-children-aged-5-to-11/jcvi-statement-on-vaccination-of-children-aged-5-to-11-years-old
It’s safer to wait