As I understand it, immunity does not so much wane, as the virus evolves to evade it.
SARS-CoV-2 is a coronavirus. It’s the same family as the common cold. Viruses in that family mutate their surface antigens rapidly. That’s why we keep catching colds. We encounter an unfamiliar strain.
It’s also why we have annual flu shots. There are many varieties of flu viruses.
Natural immunity is not guaranteed to be superior to a vaccine. The vaccine can emphasize parts of the virus which mutate infrequently.
As I understand it, immunity does not so much wane, as the virus evolves to evade it.
SARS-CoV-2 is a coronavirus. It’s the same family as the common cold. Viruses in that family mutate their surface antigens rapidly. That’s why we keep catching colds. We encounter an unfamiliar strain.
It’s also why we have annual flu shots. There are many varieties of flu viruses.
Natural immunity is not guaranteed to be superior to a vaccine. The vaccine can emphasize parts of the virus which mutate infrequently.
Does the vaccine indeed do this: emphasize parts of the virus which mutate infrequently? And what parts of the virus mutate and which don't?
It depends upon the vaccine. There are various ways to make vaccines, including DIY vaccines from mail ordered peptides.
https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/niQ3heWwF6SydhS7R/making-vaccine
As I understand it, the spike protein cannot change much without rendering the virus harmless.