When talking about diseases such as COVID-19 there are different levels of immunity, and public health officials talk about those differences. 

Dallas County Health Department Public Information Officer Ann Cochran says immunity refers to your body being more likely to be able to resist a particular disease. Cochran says there are two different immunities in natural and acquired immunity.

“Natural immunity is the antibody protection that your body creates against a germ once you’ve been infected by it. Acquired immunity happens when you receive a vaccine that triggers that very same protective antibody reaction but without the risk of going through being sick with the disease.”

Cochran tells Raccoon Valley Radio with acquired immunity Cochran says you can get immunity without having to go through the consequences of getting the disease.

“Other things like with the coronavirus. People who suffer through the disease, they do end up with natural immunity but they may also end up with permanent damage to their lungs or other organs.”

Cochran says both immunities protect the body from disease in about the same way.