4 ms·

If I've already had the virus, do I need to get vaccinated?

divbzero 6y ago
According to the CDC: [1] Yes. Due to the severe health risks associated with COVID-19 and the fact that reinfection with COVID-19 is possible, you should be vaccinated regardless of whether you already had COVID-19 infection. If you were treated for COVID-19 symptoms with monoclonal antibodies or convalescent plasma, you should wait 90 days before getting a COVID-19 vaccine. Talk to your doctor if you are unsure what treatments you received or if you have more questions about getting a COVID-19 vaccine. [1]: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/faq.html https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/faq.html The underlying rationale is that vaccines elicit a more consistent immune response [2] and confer immunity with higher efficacy [3] than being infected with the real coronavirus. [2]: https://abcnews.go.com/Health/people-covid-19-vaccine-doctors/story?id=74783687 https://abcnews.go.com/Health/people-covid-19-vaccine-doctor... [3]: https://blogs.sciencemag.org/pipeline/archives/2021/01/14/johnson-and-johnson-sinovac-and-more https://blogs.sciencemag.org/pipeline/archives/2021/01/14/jo...
- mixmastamyk 6y ago
  > Out of over six thousand who have had the virus, there have been about 42 re-infections. Comparing that to the cohort of people who were never infected, that comes out to 83% efficacy. So there’s your comparison number – which means that being vaccinated with either of the mRNA agents provides better protection than being infected with the real coronavirus can. The vaccine comes in two doses spaced by a month or two, and the second boosts immune response. Being exposed to the real thing twice should have a similar effect, but it would be hard to precisely dose and schedule another weak exposure. However, `42/6000 = 0.007` sounds pretty low-risk to me, unless you are elderly and/or in poor health.
- bagacrap 6y ago
  It's still mind boggling to be that this isn't taken into account when deciding on the order of vaccine distribution. The incremental protection conferred to a recovered covid patient is far less than that conferred to someone who hasn't contracted the disease.
garmaine 6y ago
Yes, but do your peers a favor and wait until there is no shortage.

According to the CDC: [1] Yes. Due to the severe health risks associated with COVID-19 and the fact that reinfection with COVID-19 is possible, you should be vaccinated regardless of whether you already had COVID-19 infection. If you were treated for COVID-19 symptoms with monoclonal antibodies or convalescent plasma, you should wait 90 days before getting a COVID-19 vaccine. Talk to your doctor if you are unsure what treatments you received or if you have more questions about getting a COVID-19 vaccine. [1]: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/faq.html https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/faq.html The underlying rationale is that vaccines elicit a more consistent immune response [2] and confer immunity with higher efficacy [3] than being infected with the real coronavirus. [2]: https://abcnews.go.com/Health/people-covid-19-vaccine-doctors/story?id=74783687 https://abcnews.go.com/Health/people-covid-19-vaccine-doctor... [3]: https://blogs.sciencemag.org/pipeline/archives/2021/01/14/johnson-and-johnson-sinovac-and-more https://blogs.sciencemag.org/pipeline/archives/2021/01/14/jo...

mixmastamyk 6y ago
> Out of over six thousand who have had the virus, there have been about 42 re-infections. Comparing that to the cohort of people who were never infected, that comes out to 83% efficacy. So there’s your comparison number – which means that being vaccinated with either of the mRNA agents provides better protection than being infected with the real coronavirus can. The vaccine comes in two doses spaced by a month or two, and the second boosts immune response. Being exposed to the real thing twice should have a similar effect, but it would be hard to precisely dose and schedule another weak exposure. However, `42/6000 = 0.007` sounds pretty low-risk to me, unless you are elderly and/or in poor health.
bagacrap 6y ago
It's still mind boggling to be that this isn't taken into account when deciding on the order of vaccine distribution. The incremental protection conferred to a recovered covid patient is far less than that conferred to someone who hasn't contracted the disease.

garmaine 6y ago

Yes, but do your peers a favor and wait until there is no shortage.