New study suggests natural immunity is more protective over time than COVID-19 vaccine

According to a new study out of Israel, the immunity individuals experience after recovering from COVID-19 is better than the protection experienced by individuals following an immunization against the virus.

Scientists who looked at the country's health database over a number of months found that COVID infections and severe illness were higher among individuals who were vaccinated than those who recovered from the illness – those with natural immunity.

Those with natural immunity, according to the study, had a 10.5 per 100,000 infection rate four to six months following recovery, compared to a 69.2 per 100,000 case rate among the vaccinated.

Among the vaccinated, 0.9% of all cases were severe, compared to 0.5% among the recovered.