RE: Natural immunity seems to be significantly better, but the vaccines are significantly effective, especially in protecting against severe illness and death.
I agree with your statement about natural immunity. That is why in crafting health policy, Those who have recovered from Covid should be considered vaccinated.
Now regarding protection against severe illness and death, I too will accept this ON AVERAGE. It is not a guarantee because in some countries, the number of hospitalized who have been vaccinated still exceed those who are unvaccinated. I understand that as a percentage of population, they still are more “protected” ( note the quotes ) against severe illness than the unvaxxed, but still, as vaccines go, this are not really vaccines as we used to know vaccines.
The long term adverse effects are still not known, and there are tens of thousands of adverse effects and even deaths. To force this on the unwilling is bad ( and I would even say evil ) policy.
However, the one big underlying assumption behind the vaccine mandate, to prevent Covid transmission, is not supported by the evidence. Triple vaxxed Elizabeth Warren, Cory Booker and James Clyburn in Congress are just 3 WELL KNOWN examples.
The vaccinated STILL get infected and transmit the disease to both vaxxed and unvaxxed.
I see it happening in my personal life.
“Those who have recovered from Covid should be considered vaccinated.”
They are in many Western Countries. I would agree that they should be in the United States as well, for any Government purpose.
“as vaccines go, this are not really vaccines as we used to know vaccines”
I think they are. Perhaps more akin to the reliability and duration of flu vaccines, than a once in a lifetime home run vaccine.
“To force this on the unwilling”
I don’t think such mandates are reasonable, for something of this low risk. I don’t support them, except as a condition of employment, if it is pertinent to the job. Even then, I don’t think that the Government should mandate them, unless the Government itself is the employer. If it was super fast moving and highly fatal (like Ebola), and the vaccine was effective at stopping transmission, the door is open legally to such mandates.
“The vaccinated STILL get infected and transmit the disease to both vaxxed and unvaxxed”
Clearly yes, especially with Delta, and even more with Omicron.