What is safer to get immunized: getting infected with a virus or receiving the vaccine

With the arrival of autumn, so do respiratory viruses. To avoid contagion, it is necessary to have immunity, which can be acquired in two ways: by having passed the virus or with a vaccine. But which of the two systems is safer?

The Mayo Clinic in the US answers this question in detail. First of all, he points out that a vaccine "is like a drill: the body rehearses how to respond to a threat without being at real risk."

In addition, they remember that viral diseases such as Covid-19, measles, shingles or flu "cause serious complications much more frequently than vaccines."

The Mayo Clinic reflects that "the important thing is to compare those risks with the benefits." "Vaccines can prevent serious illness, hospitalization and death," while "the risk of a serious side effect from the vaccine is possible, but very rare."

Experts consider that "the probability of harm from an infectious disease is much greater than the probability of harm from the vaccine."

Additionally, according to the Mayo Clinic, "natural immunity is not always effective or long-lasting," "you can infect other people," and "infections can cause long-term problems."

This institution reminds that "unlike natural infection, vaccination is uniform. Each dose has the same formula and concentration, and is administered on a certain date. Natural immunity varies depending on the time and the way in which the infection was contracted."

Covid-19

The Mayo Clinic specifies case by case, mentioning some of the most common viruses. Thus, in the case of coronavirus, it states that the vaccine is safer than contagion, since Covid-19 "can lead to serious illness, persistent symptoms and death, even if people are healthy."

Flu

Also in the case of the flu it is better to get vaccinated, since the virus "can cause high fever, body aches, pneumonia, hospitalization or death, especially in older people or people with health problems."

Measles

Clearer is the case of measles, which "can cause ear infections, pneumonia, breathing problems, brain inflammation and death," while "the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine offers more than 99% long-term protection."

Human Papillomavirus (HPV)

The Mayo Clinic recalls that "certain types of human papillomavirus (HPV) can cause some types of cancer, such as cervical cancer, anal cancer, and some throat cancer." In addition, "vaccination against HPV at an early age can prevent more than 90% of cases of cervical cancer."

Shingles

Shingles "can lead to postherpetic neuralgia, which is prolonged nerve pain." On the other hand, "in adults aged 50 or older and in many people with a weakened immune system, vaccination is the safest alternative."

Respiratory syncytial virus