It has been over two years since SARS-CoV-2 began its spread from obscure origins in Wuhan,¹ and we now have a third mandatory shot of COVID-19 vaccine to contend with in Australia as part of the global effort to contain the damage. The efficacy of this booster is now officially three months, so the question remains how many times this cycle will be repeated?

In Australia the AstraZeneca vaccine is now almost obsolete with the appearance of omicron. This means that people who had the AstraZeneca shot twice are now encouraged to get an mRNA vaccine booster if they want to remain in certain fields of employment, or to travel; although, AstraZeneca is still available.

For those like myself who see a legitimate place for vaccination, the difficulty is getting a fair understanding of the chemical contents of proprietary vaccines, new or old, in order to assess safety and make recommendations. The health consequence of novel vaccine technologies remains to be established in the long-term, the current roll-out constituting a long-term  clinical trial.

It goes without saying that the process of recommending medicines to people en masse, by bureaucrats, prevents individuality in treatment and may harm those people who do not fit definitions of statistical normality. In Western medicine individual constitutional differences are not taken into consideration to the extent they are in alternative medicine; there is no assessment of susceptibility other than of underlying medical conditions. At least there is now a widespread acknowledgement in the mainstream media of the concept of vaccine damage (see side-effects of vaccines in the MIMs or Drug Guide).

Fortunately Novavax has just appeared domestically in Australia, which is an old-fashioned vaccine made with conventional viral spike protein (another protein-subunit contender is Corbevax). This means that people who have resisted the technology used in the mRNA vaccines or viral-vector vaccines, will be able to get vaccinated. It is not yet available as a booster in Australia.

It is worth noting when reading scientific or non-scientific discussions of vaccines that there are eight different types (protein subunit, virus-like particles, mRNA, DNA, replicating vector, non-replicating vector, weakened virus, inactivated virus), not all being used.²

They employ different mechanisms to prompt an immune reaction, as well as different proprietary adjuvants, excipients and preservatives in manufacture (Advax, recombinant albumin, Monophosphyoryl Lipid A, A503, Matrix-M, MF59, Alum, CPG ODNs, β-Propiolactone, DOTAP, Dlin-MC3-DMA etc.). The potential dangers are dependent on the types or mix of vaccines used to achieve ‘full vaccination’ (I don’t mean nefarious hidden additives, transmitter chips, or toxic mRNA code).

We should also be wary when informed that that this vaccine confers herd immunity or prevents infection, asymptomatic (30%) or symptomatic, or that it stops transmission from one vaccinated person to another. Call it ‘breakthrough infection’ if you like, I was double vaccinated (AstraZeneca) and caught COVID after being infected by another double vaccinated person (Pfizer-BioNTech).

This social ‘contact’ was infected through family visits at an old people’s home where he worked, and he was wearing all the required PPE and followed all the protocols. Nevertheless, we are now, absurdly, allowed contact with infected members of the herd for up to 4 hours without being a close contact for isolation purposes.

I also read that COVID can stay alive on plastic surfaces for up to 193 hours,³ just as more common-sense restrictions are being relaxed to help ease small businesses out of ICU. Unfortunately  it is social distancing, masks and hand washing which prevent infection, as they did with SARS when no vaccine was available.

Another ‘close’ domestic contact was infected at the same time and we went through the illness and recovery together with some lingering fatigue, mental fog and nasal symptoms remaining. What disturbed me was finding out that a third booster was soon to be mandatory in Australia at an interval of no longer than three months according to ATAGI (the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation):

‘All individuals aged 16 years and over are recommended to receive a COVID-19 vaccine booster dose to maintain an “up-to-date” status. This booster dose is now recommended from 3 months after the last primary dose.’

In fact employers are now making demands on my recovered friends working in aged care and disability to get boosted or resign. Fortunately, ATAGI allows a deferral of four months after a positive PCR test:

‘Individuals who have had prior COVID-19, including asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection, still require completion of the above vaccination schedule, but can defer receipt of the next dose for up to 4 months following their infection.’

Even so, I have spent days recovering from each vaccination shot, a commonplace complaint, and I don’t fancy repeating the exercise every few months. At least we are still  required to give our consent to medicines, regardless of how much bureaucrats coerce us with threats of social exclusion.

For those of us who have recovered from natural infection, an important question is whether or not it confers equivalent or superior immune protection against re-infection compared to the ‘recommended’ booster. It would be fair to assume that infection would make further vaccination unnecessary.

To begin with it is worth briefly describing the immune response to vaccination or infection. The immune system offers two levels of protection: non-specific protection against pathogens (innate), as well as specific responses (adaptive). Innate protection results from barrier defences (skin, mucus membranes, cilia, secretions, enzymes, complement) and general responses from natural killer cells, neutrophils, phagocytes, and inflammatory mechanisms.

Adaptive immunity results from the precise identification of an invading pathogen and a tailored response by T-cells (CD4+, CD8+)  and B-cells. B-cells are stimulated to produce antibodies by T-helper cells which are then released into body fluids where they deactivate pathogens by binding to them. B memory cells are also produced which constitute long-term immune memory, because these cells enable a quick response against re-infection by rapidly producing the specific antibodies required. Adaptive immunity follows from a previous vaccination or infection with a virus.

Importantly, an unvaccinated person requires up 1-2 weeks to mount an antibody response (to SARS-CoV-2 spike protein and nucleoprotein) in a normal healthy individual, because the virus suppresses the antibody response. This gives the virus an opportunity to overwhelm the host (high viral burden) before specific defences are activated. The virus not only delays antibody production but also CD8+ and CD4+ cells, as well as suppressing dendritic cells and activated 1 + 3 interferon. This is why the virus has an incubation period of 2-12 days, which is three times longer than the flu. The possibility of ensuing immune dysregulation and a cytokine storm leading to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is also increased.⁴

Another interesting point is that because coronaviruses are part of the existing pool of pathogens making up the annual common colds, there is some cross-reactivity to SARS-CoV-2, giving a boost to defences. This arises from existing antibodies to nucleoprotein.⁵

What is known about the mRNA vaccines is that they produce specific antibodies to the spike protein, as well as induce CD4+ T-helper cell responses. Other classes of vaccines may produce a broader range of antibodies depending on how much of the different viral proteins are present in the vaccine (S, N, Matrix, Envelope). Another problem is that older vaccines produce antibodies that no longer match the new variant spike architectures.

This is why infection with the virus produces a broader response compared to the mRNA booster. In fact,  infection with the virus produced a response equivalent to two doses of BNT162b2 (Pfizer) in individuals with no prior infection.⁶ It also enhances the booster.⁷

Antibody fade is another problem, so far an unfortunate  feature of vaccinations against SARS-CoV-2 as well as infection-induced natural immunity. This transient protection against coronaviruses compares starkly with a life-long immunity to smallpox from vaccination; nevertheless, B memory cells are retained ready to begin antibody production.

In the case of SARS-CoV-2, both antibodies to spike protein and nucleocapsid decline, as well as T cell responses (CD4+, CD8+), while S specific B and T memory cells persisted at a relatively stable rate, as shown in one study of recovered patients. Virus neutralising activity after 74 days was present in 50% of the patients (at a titre level above 1:40).⁸

Another study of a much larger sample size showed antibodies to spike protein were relatively stable over 6 months while B memory cells were more abundant than at one month. CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cells declined to half their titres 3 to 5 months after infection.⁹ In fact, immune memory persists in 90% of patients (spike protein, nucleocapsid, pseudovirus, B cell, T cell) at 9 months,¹⁰ and as much as 13-14 months for S protein (anti-RGB), with anti-nucleocapsid antibodies significantly reduced.^11,12

In case the reader is in doubt as to the robustness of the immune system following natural infection—despite the fact people do get re-infected, especially the elderly—a study of 653 subjects demonstrated considerable immune persistence at 6 months. Of the subjects 20% had a PCR-confirmed history of mild clinical infection:

‘Pseudoviral neutralization activity was widespread among participants, did not decrease over time, and correlated with clinical antibody assays. Reinfection with SARS-CoV-2 was not observed among individuals with mild clinical COVID-19, while infections continued in a group without known prior infection. Spike and nucleocapsid COVID-19 antibodies were associated with almost all infections and persisted at stable levels for the study duration.’¹³

In order to boost immunity naturally there is evidence for taking garlic (organo-sulphur compounds and quercetin inhibit M protease),¹⁴ liquorice root (binds Spike protein, inhibits viral entry),¹⁵ echinacea (antiviral, anti-inflammatory),^16,17 zinc (all aspects of immunity, antiviral),^18–20 turmeric (anti-inflammatory, antiviral)²¹ and vitamin C (immune defences).

I have found all of these very effective in COVID treatment. In fact, there has been a marked increase in consumption of ginger, garlic, turmeric, onion and lemon in many countries.^22,23 Stay healthy by getting adequate exercise, drinking plenty of clean water and eating wholefoods, while avoiding factory foods and excess stimulants. Manage stress effectively as stress lowers immunity.

Special:

If you would like to know more about medicinal herbs and wholefoods an A-Z eBook is available which is comprised of essays with references from traditional herbals as well as the current medical evidence-base. Many of these essays are also available free on this website in abridged form under the wholefoods and herbs tab.

Disclaimer

This article is intended for the purpose of general education only, and is not a substitute for a diagnosis, treatment advice, or a prescription given in a consultation with a qualified physician.

References:

1.         Markson S. What Really Happened In Wuhan. Sydney: Harper Collins; 2021.

2.         Rahman MM, Masum MHU, Wajed S, Talukder A. A comprehensive review on COVID-19 vaccines: development, effectiveness, adverse effects, distribution and challenges. Virusdisease 2022;1–22.

3.         Hirose R, Itoh Y, Ikegaya H, et al. Differences in environmental stability among SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern: Omicron has higher stability. 2022;2022.01.18.476607. https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2022.01.18.476607v1

4.         Jeyanathan M, Afkhami S, Smaill F, Miller MS, Lichty BD, Xing Z. Immunological considerations for COVID-19 vaccine strategies. Nat Rev Immunol 2020;20:615–32.

5.         Ansari A, Arya R, Sachan S, et al. Immune Memory in Mild COVID-19 Patients and Unexposed Donors Reveals Persistent T Cell Responses After SARS-CoV-2 Infection. Front Immunol 2021;12:636768.

6.         Ebinger JE, Fert-Bober J, Printsev I, et al. Antibody responses to the BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine in individuals previously infected with SARS-CoV-2. Nat Med 2021;27:981–4.

7.         Hansen CB, Jarlhelt I, Hasselbalch RB, et al. Antibody-dependent neutralizing capacity of the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine BNT162b2 with and without previous COVID-19 priming. J Intern Med 2021;290:1272–4.

8.         Wheatley AK, Juno JA, Wang JJ, et al. Evolution of immune responses to SARS-CoV-2 in mild-moderate COVID-19. Nat Commun 2021;12:1162.

9.         Dan JM, Mateus J, Kato Y, et al. Immunological memory to SARS-CoV-2 assessed for up to 8 months after infection. Science 2021;371:eabf4063.

10.       Yao L, Wang G-L, Shen Y, et al. Persistence of Antibody and Cellular Immune Responses in Coronavirus Disease 2019 Patients Over Nine Months After Infection. J Infect Dis 2021;224:586–94.

11.       Gallais F, Gantner P, Bruel T, et al. Evolution of antibody responses up to 13 months after SARS-CoV-2 infection and risk of reinfection. EBioMedicine 2021;71:103561.

12.       Rosati M, Terpos E, Ntanasis-Stathopoulos I, et al. Sequential Analysis of Binding and Neutralizing Antibody in COVID-19 Convalescent Patients at 14 Months After SARS-CoV-2 Infection. Front Immunol 2021;12:793953.

13.       Schuler CF, Gherasim C, O’Shea K, et al. Mild SARS-CoV-2 Illness Is Not Associated with Reinfections and Provides Persistent Spike, Nucleocapsid, and Virus-Neutralizing Antibodies. Microbiol Spectr 2021;9:e0008721.

14.       Khubber S, Hashemifesharaki R, Mohammadi M, Gharibzahedi SMT. Garlic (Allium sativum L.): a potential unique therapeutic food rich in organosulfur and flavonoid compounds to fight with COVID-19. Nutr J 2020;19:124.

15.       Sinha SK, Prasad SK, Islam MA, et al. Identification of bioactive compounds from Glycyrrhiza glabra as possible inhibitor of SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein and non-structural protein-15: a pharmacoinformatics study. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2020;1–15.

16.       Signer J, Jonsdottir HR, Albrich WC, et al. In vitro virucidal activity of Echinaforce®, an Echinacea purpurea preparation, against coronaviruses, including common cold coronavirus 229E and SARS-CoV-2. Virol J 2020;17:136.

17.       Nagoor Meeran MF, Javed H, Sharma C, et al. Can Echinacea be a potential candidate to target immunity, inflammation, and infection – The trinity of coronavirus disease 2019. Heliyon 2021;7:e05990.

18.       Alexander J, Tinkov A, Strand TA, Alehagen U, Skalny A, Aaseth J. Early Nutritional Interventions with Zinc, Selenium and Vitamin D for Raising Anti-Viral Resistance Against Progressive COVID-19. Nutrients 2020;12:E2358.

19.       Wessels I, Rolles B, Rink L. The Potential Impact of Zinc Supplementation on COVID-19 Pathogenesis. Front Immunol 2020;11:1712.

20.       Jothimani D, Kailasam E, Danielraj S, et al. COVID-19: Poor outcomes in patients with zinc deficiency. Int J Infect Dis 2020;100:343–9.

21.       Babaei F, Nassiri-Asl M, Hosseinzadeh H. Curcumin (a constituent of turmeric): New treatment option against COVID-19. Food Sci Nutr 2020;8:5215–27.

22.       Pieroni A, Vandebroek I, Prakofjewa J, et al. Taming the pandemic? The importance of homemade plant-based foods and beverages as community responses to COVID-19. J Ethnobiol Ethnomed 2020;16:75.

23.       Sen D, Debnath P, Debnath B, Bhaumik S, Debnath S. Identification of potential inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2 main protease and spike receptor from 10 important spices through structure-based virtual screening and molecular dynamic study. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2022;40:941–62.