A preprint study from the University of Texas Health Sciences Center showed that the SARS-CoV-2 antibodies from individuals who recovered from COVID-19 are as effective as the vaccinated.
Neutralizing antibodies against COVID-19 should effectively block the spike protein of the SARS-CoV-2 from attaching to human cells. They should be specific to the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of the spike protein. These neutralizing antibodies are called anti-RBD.
The receptor-binding domain of the spike protein is colored magenta below.
Furthermore, the antibodies should be adequate in number and have an excellent affinity to the RBD. Lastly, the antibodies should effectively stop the virus after binding to it.
The study compared 21 convalescent plasma samples with 21 individuals who completed two mRNA vaccination. The vaccinated samples were collected 15-29 days after administration of the second dose of the Pfizer or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine were studied.
The result showed that the antibodies between the convalescent and post-vaccinated groups were similar in terms of the anti-spike antibody levels, spike protein binding affinity, receptor-binding domain affinity, and neutralizing capacity.
The figures below compare convalescent (filled circles) and post-vaccination plasma (empty circles). The left shows equal levels of the anti-spike antibodies between the two groups.
The one on the right shows the spike protein affinity, receptor-binding domain affinity, and neutralizing capacity (EC50) of the antibodies of the two groups.
The spike affinity may look higher in the vaccinated compared to the recovered but there is no statistically significant difference.
While this study shows that natural immunity is the same as vaccine-acquired immunity, the samples were collected 15-29 days post-vaccination. Previous studies have shown that antibodies acquired post-vaccination wanes significantly after five months. That is why the CDC is recommending booster shots.
Read here: Durable Immunity from Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccine Lasts only Six Months. and The Durability Study of the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine is Strange and Unusual
If the plasma from the vaccinated were collected more than five months after the vaccination, natural immunity would show its superiority.
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