Getting vaccinated against COVID-19 is important
The second wave of coronavirus seems to be adding newer caseloads every passing day. However, vaccination drives opening up for people aged 18 and above have arrived as a glimmer of hope right now. The faster eligible people get vaccinated, the better would we be able to fight the pandemic, and most of all, minimize severity and mortality caused by variants.
When should recovered patients take the jab?
Getting a vaccine jab is also one of the ways a person gains immunity against novel coronavirus. But when should a person who has already contracted the infection get the jab? Should they get the jab as and when it becomes available, or delay it?
If you are a recovered COVID patient who hasn't yet been vaccinated, here's what you need to know right now.
All recovered COVID patients should get the vaccine shot
As per current estimates, all coronavirus vaccines under approval are over 80% effective and incredibly promising in minimizing symptoms, severity, mortality as well as TTR (Time taken to recovery).
Even if there remains a slim chance of getting COVID again, being vaccinated will effectively cut down the risks which could complicate the case, and protect you from scary mutants as well. Hence, even if you have caught COVID and are immune to it, getting the vaccine will only 'boost' your protection, and therefore, shouldn't be ignored.
Since we don’t know how long immunity against coronavirus actually lasts, getting vaccinated also works to provide more consistent, longer-lasting immunity.
The timing of the dose matters
The vaccine doses, for the general eligible public, are best scheduled as and when available. However, for the ones who might have just tested positive, in recovery, or may just have tested negative after contracting it may have the option to delay their jab by upto some weeks. This is because a past infection with coronavirus grants a person natural immunity upto a given time.
Prior natural immunity, which doctors say is better than vaccine-generated immunity for a specific amount of time, can also differ on the type and severity of infection. The level of antibodies present in your body can help determine the best time to get vaccinated if you have caught COVID.
When should be the time to get the dose?
Studies and anecdotal evidence suggest that on average, a person who has had COVID-19 gets natural immunity that lasts anywhere from 90-180 days. As mentioned before, natural immunity for a person could also differ, depending on severity, chronic ailments and history of infection. Therefore, while it is actively encouraged for COVID patients to get the jab, it would be best to do so 2-8 weeks post infection.(i.e., after the end of the recovery/isolation period).
What happens if you get it immediately after recovery?
Right now, we do not have any evidence that suggests that getting vaccinated immediately after infection is contraindicated.
However, vaccine driven immunity may not help much at a time when natural immunity against the virus is at its strongest. Therefore, it would be best to take the shot when natural immunity starts to wane.
Can you get the vaccine if you are showing COVID symptoms but test negative?
Considering the surging nature of the virus, many are suffering from COVID but getting false negatives.
Unless and until you fully recover from the infection, it is not advisable to get vaccinated. Visiting a vaccination site may also fuel the spread of infection onto others.
If a person has contracted COVID-19 after getting the first dose, observe a 2-week resting period and refer to the dosing schedules mentioned as per the vaccine. Getting untimely vaccinated may render it to work ineffectively and stress the body out.
Do you still need two doses of the vaccine?
There’s also misinformation that looms around vaccination and past history of contracting COVID-19. Some believe that people who have had COVID only require a single dose of the vaccine to be fully protected. That is not completely true.
While some research has shown that a single vaccine dose boosts protection in those who have been previously infected, a second dose would be needed to strengthen the immune response.