Should I get the COVID-19 vaccine if I have the virus?
Yes. Regardless of the previous infection, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says people should plan to get vaccinated when it’s their turn.
“It is a very straightforward matter,” said Johns Hopkins infectious disease specialist Dr. Amesh Adalja. “Yes, you need to be vaccinated.”
After someone has recovered, their immune system must prevent them from getting sick again.
“Your immune system is able to identify the virus and protect itself,” said Dr. Saskia Popescu, an infectious disease specialist at George Mason University.
Scientists still don’t know exactly how long this immunity lasts or how strong it is, although recent research suggests that the protection may last for several months.
It is impossible to know how long a person can be immune, said Prathit Kulkarni, an infectious disease specialist at Baylor College of Medicine. “There is no way to calculate this.”
Vaccines, in contrast, are designed to produce a more consistent and optimal immune response. And they should increase any pre-existing immunity that a person may have against an infection, experts say.
“As we are in this pandemic and we have no control over it, the safest approach is to vaccinate,” said Kulkarni. “You don’t lose anything and you can benefit.”
If you’ve been infected in the past three months, the CDC says it’s okay to postpone vaccination if you want to let others go first while supplies are limited.
“All things being equal, you would like the unprotected person to be the first,” said Adalja.
___
The AP is answering your questions about the coronavirus in this series. Send them to: [email protected].
Read the previous viral questions:
If I already had the coronavirus, can I get it again?
How quickly do I need a second injection of COVID-19 vaccine?
Can I stop wearing a mask after receiving the COVID-19 vaccine?