The immunity you gain after a
Covid-19 infection may not be sufficient to protect you against the virus in
the future. Here's what you need to know.
Millions of people who have developed Covid-19 recently may have worries
about their immunity. Do they still require a booster shot if they haven't
already had one? And when is the best moment to obtain it?
Whether or not they have had Covid-19 in the past, federal health
experts continue to recommend that everyone get vaccinated and boosted.
However, more than half of Americans who are fully vaccinated and eligible for
booster doses have yet to obtain them. And there's no clear advice on when to
arrange a booster appointment once you've recovered from Covid-19. This is what
we know so far.
What’s the point of getting a booster after you’ve had Covid?
According to most experts, vaccines can provide a more reliable and effective immune boost than natural infection.
When you're infected with the coronavirus, your immune system
kicks into high gear, strengthening your body's defenses against future
infections. The number of antibodies you've made is one of the greatest methods
experts know to assess that response. According to Aubree Gordon, an
epidemiologist at the University of Michigan, those infected with the
coronavirus have lower levels of antibodies than those who have been
vaccinated.
One reason for this difference is that infections stimulate many
different parts of the immune system. The strength of the antibody response is
determined by factors such as the amount of virus inhaled, whether you have
underlying medical issues and the severity of your symptoms. "If you were
sicker or for a longer period, you could have a high level," Dr. Gordon
explained. "However, it will still be less than what we see with the
vaccine."
According to Paul Thomas, an immunologist at St. Jude Children's
Research Hospital in Memphis, vaccines provide a specific set of instructions
for the immune system to use in the absence of any distractions, such as an
active infection. Vaccination also produces a substantial and predictable
antibody response in most persons. In a few days, a booster shot tells the body
to increase its defenses even faster than the first or second shot.
According to studies, the antibodies created after vaccination
tend to stay at protective levels for longer.
Dr. Amy Sherman, an infectious disease physician at Brigham and
Women's Hospital in Boston, said, "I believe that's the best argument to
get boosted, frankly, even if you've had a recent infection." "It's a
certain approach to boost your immune overall system performance and provide
extra protection."
When is the best time to get a booster?
When it comes to arranging a booster shot after receiving
Covid-19, there is no hard and fast rule. The best time to start depends on
your specific circumstances, such as the severity of your sickness, how long
it's been since your symptoms went away, and your risk of re-exposure.
If you have an active infection, the Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention recommends waiting until you no longer have symptoms and have
satisfied their requirements for releasing you from isolation. (That is, if you
have a minor infection, your symptoms have been present for at least five days,
they are improving, and you have been fever-free for at least 24 hours without
the use of medications.)
However, some scientists recommend delaying your booster for even
longer. It might make sense to wait until you've fully recovered or can get a
negative P.C.R. test, according to Ali Ellebedy, an immunologist at Washington
University School of Medicine in St. Louis. However, this isn't a C.D.C.
condition for ending isolation and could take weeks (or even months).
Dr. Ellebedy explained, "You just don't want to overwhelm
your system." Allow your immune system to recover from the coronavirus
before asking it to work overtime with the vaccine. He claims that this will
also allow for a more refined and long-lasting response.
And according to Dr. Ellebedy, there may be a benefit to waiting
even longer in some cases. If your risk of reinfection is low, such as if you
work remotely, are generally healthy, and can follow public health guidelines
for masking and social distancing, it may make sense to wait until your natural
immunity is waning, which can take up to three months after infection, before
getting boosted, he said. Not only will this aid in the production of a more
powerful antibody response, but by the time you're ready to be boosted, a newer
form of the vaccine that is specific to Omicron may be available.
"The vaccine is taken from the original coronavirus strain,
which no longer exists," Dr. Ellebedy explained. "If an Omicron-based
vaccine becomes available in a few months, why not use it to prepare for whatever
comes next?" New versions of the Covid booster are being tested by drug
companies and might be available by the summer.
Deferring a booster isn't the best solution for everyone, though.
Suppose you're at risk of reinfection or serious illness. In that case, whether
it's because of your age, medical conditions, a weakened immune system, or
because you live or work in an environment where you're more likely to be
exposed, you should consider getting an extra vaccine dose sooner rather than
later, according to Dr. Ellebedy. Getting your booster immunization sooner can
help safeguard vulnerable family members and children too young to get the
vaccine.
Of course, most experts agree that if you've used Covid-19 for
more than five or six months and haven't yet been boosted, you should do so as
soon as you're eligible.
Dr. Thomas stated, "The booster provides genuine material help towards preventing you from getting Omicron." "And there's so much Omicron about right now that if you haven't already caught it, now's your opportunity to prevent it."