And how the percentage of vaccinated people affects the rate of virus mutation
I continue to share the most interesting of our conversation with Maxim Bokov - biologist (Moscow State University), biophysicist, PhD, scientist of Charles University (Prague). The full version can be viewed at Youtube.
Read part 1
What is the point of vaccination for immunity
Dr. Pavlova:
- Belgian virologist Gerry Vanden Bossche published a "doomsday manifesto" in which he said that vaccination itself is a huge harm to humans. It makes the human immune system "toothless". How does it usually happen? A person encountered some kind of virus, developed immunity, or died. If he survived, he developed immunity, the immune system got stronger, became stronger. And the weak have died. And only in this way should humanity develop, survive, and become stronger. But vaccination deprives the human immune system of the ability to fight and become stronger. Explain, please, is there something behind this view?
Maxim Bokov:
- To put it mildly, this is a very extreme statement. Our immune system is always on the alert, because we encounter viruses, bacteria, etc. 24 hours a day. And if you are not sick now, this does not mean that your immunity is not working. Vice versa.
And to say that the coronavirus vaccine will upset the entire immune system, and will not be able to fight and protect us, is, to put it mildly, not true.
The immune system is always working.
Just 100 years ago, the Spanish flu raged. During the "Spanish flu", according to various estimates, between 50 and 100 million people died in the world. Now hundreds of times fewer people die just because people have learned how to behave correctly during such situations and use vaccines. A hundred years ago, people weren't as tinkered with as they are now.
Our immunity after vaccination does not threaten anything. You are simply giving the body an opportunity to know in advance what it may face in the future.
The meaning of the vaccine is warn the immune system about the existence of the virus.
Vaccination prevents viruses from mutating
Dr. Pavlova:
- Viruses and bacteria are constantly changing, mutating, becoming stronger. We, too, have to become stronger - to study them more and prepare means for the struggle.
Maxim Bokov:
- This is true. We are constantly in a race with viruses and bacteria: either they or our immune system adjusts.
Over the past two years, the coronavirus has greatly mutated and our different workarounds. For example, a "delta" strain needs less virus to infect a person.
Let me explain: if earlier it was necessary, conditionally, 20 proteins on the surface of a human cell in order to attach and infect a cell, then this needs less, for example, 5. This is the mutation strategy he chose.
I must say that all these mutants do not arise without the help of people. Those who did not keep their distance, did not wear a mask, did not want to be vaccinated. Even an untreated person is an excellent field for mutations. The virus sits in it longer, adapts more to the body, and jumps to others with some new properties.
So one of the goals of vaccination is to reduce the number of people who get sick, and because of this reduce the rate of virus mutations (in particular, coronavirus). So that we win this race, and not vice versa. So that it turns into a state, roughly speaking, of a common ARVI infection.
To be continued.
Does the coronavirus vaccine change genes: Scientists gave a definite answer
Antibody Riddles: Easy Extraction of Coronavirus - Recovered, but Not Vaccinated
