Talking Point #05 - Vaccines Do Not Need to Create Immunity
Vaccines only need to show they can create antibodies.
October is Vaccine Injury Awareness Month, and with Alexis Lorenze’s story of vaccine injury going viral on social media, it’s time to update the VaxSafety.org website, this Substack, and my new Instagram! I’ll be posting 60 talking points that break this conversation into easily digestible parts, making it accessible for everyone, even kids. So, let’s put on our black ribbons for awareness and spread the word. Feel free to share widely, and check back anytime for updates, as I’ll be adding more information as needed.
What is immunity exactly?
Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines immunity as the power to keep yourself from being affected by a disease; the quality or state of being immune, especially a condition of being able to resist a particular disease, especially through preventing the development of a pathogenic microorganism or by counteracting the effects of its products.
There are three types of immunity: innate, adaptive, and passive.
Innate immunity is what we are born with and includes barriers, such as skin and mucous membranes, that keep harmful substances from entering the body. We also get our mother’s immunities in the womb and through breast milk.
Adaptive immunity develops throughout our lives and works to protect and heal the body when the innate immune system fails. It provides the body with the ability to recognize and remember specific pathogens through their antigens. We develop adaptive immunity when we're exposed to diseases.
Passive Immunity is borrowed from another source and is a short-term immunity resulting from introducing antibodies from another person or animal.
So, do vaccines really create immunity? Vaccines are supposed to familiarize your immune system by making antibodies to defend your body against harmful invaders. So, in theory, vaccines can create some amount of passive immunity, which could help lessen symptoms or prevent death for some.
Vaccines create antibodies, but they do not provide complete immunity. Vaccination does not make you invincible; you can still contract the disease you were vaccinated against or catch a variant not covered by the vaccine. In fact, vaccine-induced antibodies often don’t last a lifetime and typically require boosters for continued protection.
In contrast, when your body encounters and fights a wild disease, it usually produces stronger, longer-lasting antibodies that can last a lifetime.
Vaccine manufacturers are not required to prove that their product guarantees immunity; they only need to demonstrate that their vaccine can create antibodies against the virus. Think of it like soldiers going to war: they don’t win just by showing up; they must actively fight until an outcome is determined. Most importantly, manufacturers should be required to disclose the exact risks associated with each disease, including the death rate, compared to the risk of side effects from the vaccine and the percentage of infections it prevents. However, this information is often not provided.
How much immunity does one gain? The truth is that it varies from person to person. If you don’t have your blood titers tested after immunization, you won’t know if antibodies have been produced. Some of the immunocompromised children I know get tested after each round of shots, and many can’t raise their titers even after multiple vaccination attempts.