What happens if you miss or delay your COVID-19 vaccine appointment?
Vaccination drives for people over the age of 18 kickstarted in the first week of May, and now many amongst those who got Covaxin are now scheduled to get their second vaccine dose. However, the current shortage of vaccines and availability has put in the fear of having to miss the second dose unnecessarily.
While governments are ramping up efforts and prioritizing second doses for beneficiaries, what actually happens if you miss your scheduled date for vaccination?
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Will it render your vaccination ineffective? Or, how long can you extend it for?
We answer some of the commonly asked questions...
Immunity against coronavirus needs two whole doses of the vaccine
Unlike single-dose vaccines, all approved coronavirus vaccine shots are needed to be injected as two doses, spaced apart. While the first dose helps build a sufficient immune response in the body, the second dose helps strengthen it and also generates memory-B cells which 'remember' the response. Thus, only after a person gets two full doses of the vaccine in a given timeline, is he/she considered to be fully vaccinated and protected. Do note that peak immunity usually takes upto 14 days after the dose to kick in and mark you safe from coronavirus.
Difference between COVID antibodies from vaccines and antibodies from infection
Why does Covaxin have a shorter gap interval as compared to Covishield?
Unlike Covishield, whose guidelines have now been tweaked to allow a 12-16 week gap between doses, Covaxin doses are meant to be administered within a 6-week gap. Some experts believe that, unlike Covishield, Covaxin may not deliver a strong antibody response with the first dose, so a second dose is needed sooner to mount immunity. Again, while these claims are subject to independent investigations and observations, only full vaccination will guarantee you safety from the infection right now.
READ MORE: Covishield gap revised again, here's what you need to know
So, what happens if you miss your date?
Now, onto the main doubt- what if you happen to miss your appointment at this point? Will your vaccine still protect you?
Apart from the non-availability of doses, there could be many reasons one may end up missing the appointment, including a prior infection. Some may even fear or delay the second dose out of hesitation, side effects or personal crisis. What is more important to know is to not give in to panic.
While one must try to keep the vaccination as close as possible to the scheduled date, do understand that missing the scheduled appointment won't render your vaccine ineffective, or require you to start your vaccination process anew. What researchers don't know is if the delay will bring down efficacy rates. Nonetheless, getting the second dose is both recommended and beneficial. So, whenever you do get the second dose, in reality, it will only strengthen the response further.
How late can you take the second dose?
If you do happen to miss the dose due to non-availability, try and schedule a date as close as possible to the scheduled one. This will also help you attain a relative bit of security since you will achieve full immunity and minimize your odds of infection.
If you get infected with COVID-19 after getting the first dose of the vaccine, you might be advised to wait for a longer time for the second dose, upto 2-3 months. This is because an infectious brush with COVID-19 will also provide the body with a natural immunity that may last a while.