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Re:The Plague of the Poor by p49k on Sunday October 10, 2021 @10:15AM (#28818585)
Antibody tests exist. I’m not in any way antivax, but it makes no sense why people who already had COVID should be required to receive a vaccine instead of just proving they have antibodies.

This kind of illogical policy gives fuel to antivaxers.

Re:The Plague of the Poor by faster on Sunday October 10, 2021 @11:09AM (#28818996)
What's the difference in cost to the organization giving the shots or the antibody tests? My expectation is that they're about the same. If that's true, it's easier and more certain to just require vaccination.

Also, this article provides some arguments based more on biology. https://arstechnica.com/science/2021/10/prior-infection-vs-v...

Re:The Plague of the Poor by sequel_database on Sunday October 10, 2021 @11:15AM (#28819044)
No it's not easier because my employees will quit
Re:The Plague of the Poor by bayesian_horse on Sunday October 10, 2021 @03:40PM (#28821305)
You can test for "antibodies". But the question of "is this patient immune from Covid-19" is a lot harder to answer and especially to standardize.

There is such a thing as testing for neutralizing antibodies by testing the antibodies against the virus directly. But in general, all of the relevant tests seem to be more expensive and harder to standardize.

Every human body creates its own set of antibodies against the virus (or the vaccine). Starting from different strains of the virus, the potential for uncertainty is too great.

Re:The Plague of the Poor by labawi on Sunday October 10, 2021 @04:53PM (#28821876)
> potential for uncertainty is too great

Too great for what? Even with 2 jabs, the immunity is <90% against Delta and research shows post-covid immunity is more effective.

Re:The Plague of the Poor by bayesian_horse on Sunday October 10, 2021 @05:13PM (#28822035)
You are overestimating the "research shows" part, and no research shows that "natural immunity" is achieving a higher than 90% immunity against any infection.

Nor is it clear who actually has a "more effective" or even "sufficiently effective" immunity, given that the infection could be up to a year or more ago, and almost nobody knows exactly what strain they got. And no, you can't tell any of that easily, reliably or cheaply by antibody testing.

Proof of vaccination is the cheapest and most reliable proof of a reasonable chance of immunity.

Re:The Plague of the Poor by protomyth on Sunday October 10, 2021 @11:56AM (#28819379)
So if it costs a company the same, then workers can take medicine they don't need that has a risk to save someone a buck? How about we stick with science instead of profits?
Re:The Plague of the Poor by ajkdhcb2 on Sunday October 10, 2021 @01:16PM (#28820109)
How do you define antivax? Pretty sure you would be defined as an antivaxxer by most people as a result of your opinion that some people don't need to get vaccines
Re:The Plague of the Poor by labawi on Sunday October 10, 2021 @05:14PM (#28822036)
So, if you have post-infection immunity against virus that you can prove (test blood reactivity against virus protein), and it's likely better than typical 2 doses (research shows), you should still be legally required to take 2 jabs even though there are often side effects, even serious ones?

Not OP, but if arguing against it is anti-vaxx, then I guess you should call me anti-vaxx and I'll call you unreasonable.

Re:The Plague of the Poor by protomyth on Sunday October 10, 2021 @09:17PM (#28823569)
That's a really bad way to define ant-vax since that would encompass a lot of people following accepted practices with the measles vaccine along with some others.

Anti-vaxers hate all vaccines. Most of this thread is about following actual science and practices used for other vaccines. If you've had it, then don't get the vaccine, otherwise get the vaccine.

Re:The Plague of the Poor by ajkdhcb2 on Monday October 11, 2021 @07:08AM (#28826997)
I agree with you, but society has recently decided to label anyone with these beliefs as an anti-vaxxer, so we'll have to get used to the new terminology
Re:The Plague of the Poor by bayesian_horse on Sunday October 10, 2021 @03:43PM (#28821339)
It's not about whether the individual "needs" the vaccines, but rather about rules a society can live by.

And those who argue the most don't really argue about "they don't need the vaccine", but rather assume the vaccine is much bigger risk or damage than is at all reasonable. And that, yes, puts you very close to the "anti-vaxx" bubble.

Re:The Plague of the Poor by Nasrudith on Sunday October 10, 2021 @07:21PM (#28822855)
People seem to have completely forgotten the difference between circulating antibodies and immune cells. If somebody had Covid-19 a while ago and didn't have exposure to it they may still have immune cells but no circulating antibodies.