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Why getting infected with COVID-19 is still a bad idea Feb 2, 2022 | By Jennifer O'Hara (@jenohara)
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@jsakell

Hi Colleen, The Wall Street Journal had a piece on January 17 written by a member of their editorial board that says it's good to get Omicron, since" infection leaves most people with potent and durable protection against the disease," better than what vaccines alone will give you. She calls this superimmunity. She quotes a study from the Oregon Health and Science University that states that vaccinated people who have breakthrough infections produce higher levels of antibodies that were up to 1000% more effective than those generated two weeks after a second dose of the Pfizer vaccine. Here's the study: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2787447
Given this article from WSJ, why wouldn't I want to get infected? Sounds like a good thing.... Yours, Julie S

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Replies to "Hi Colleen, The Wall Street Journal had a piece on January 17 written by a member..."
Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Jan 26, 2022

Hi Julie, thanks for making me aware of the editorial and the JAMA study of 26 participants. I will submit your query as a question for the expert, Dr. Poland.

For me personally, however, I've chosen to continue with measures that reduce my risk of getting infected, intentionally or unintentionally, for a few reasons:
1. Because I don't want to risk infecting others who may be more vulnerable to serious consequences of COVID, such as unvaccinated children, the elderly or immunocompromised
2. I don't want to risk getting long COVID, which can be very debilitating and have long-term consequences

I am lucky enough that being vaccinated, masking, working remotely and limiting my exposure to others is relatively easy for me and my lifestyle. I realize that is not the case for everyone.

Stay tuned for Dr. Poland's next podcast on February 2, 2022.

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mpeters | @mpeters | Jan 27, 2022

I have read the Wall Street Journal every day for many years. I have stopped reading their medical information because too often there is misinformation there. Especially in editorials dealing with the medical field. I rely solely on information from Mayo Clinic now.

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