Do people with previous COVID-19 infections or COVID-19 antibodies need to receive the vaccine?
Do people with previous COVID-19 infections or COVID-19 antibodies need to receive the vaccine?
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Positive COVID-19 antibody tests and a prior COVID-19 infections do not guarantee immunity to the virus, making the COVID-19 vaccine recommended for individuals who have tested positive for the COVID-19 virus and/or for COVID-19 antibodies. With regards to safety and efficacy, so far the Pfizer and Moderna vaccine trials have concentrated on individuals who were not already previously infected with COVID-19, so it's still not clear what the effect of vaccination will be on those who have been previously infected with COVID-19 or have COVID-19 antibodies at the time of vaccination. In those trials, some individuals had prior infections, and evidence suggests that the vaccine was safe and effective for them. Receiving a vaccine even after infection is also common practice with other viruses, such as influenza and the Human papillomavirus (HPV). To help ensure safety, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommends waiting until you have recovered from the illness if experiencing symptoms before receiving the vaccine (typically 10 days after the onset of symptoms).
Positive COVID-19 antibody tests and a prior COVID-19 infections do not guarantee immunity to the virus, making the COVID-19 vaccine recommended for individuals who have tested positive for the COVID-19 virus and/or for COVID-19 antibodies. With regards to safety and efficacy, so far the Pfizer and Moderna vaccine trials have concentrated on individuals who were not already previously infected with COVID-19, so it's still not clear what the effect of vaccination will be on those who have been previously infected with COVID-19 or have COVID-19 antibodies at the time of vaccination. In those trials, some individuals had prior infections, and evidence suggests that the vaccine was safe and effective for them. Receiving a vaccine even after infection is also common practice with other viruses, such as influenza and the Human papillomavirus (HPV). To help ensure safety, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommends waiting until you have recovered from the illness if experiencing symptoms before receiving the vaccine (typically 10 days after the onset of symptoms).
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What our experts say
Positive COVID-19 antibody tests and a prior COVID-19 infections do not guarantee immunity to the virus, making the COVID-19 vaccine recommended for individuals who have tested positive for the COVID-19 virus and/or for COVID-19 antibodies.
With regards to safety and efficacy, so far the Pfizer and Moderna vaccine trials have concentrated on individuals who were not already previously infected with COVID-19, so it's still not clear what the effect of vaccination will be on those who have been previously infected with COVID-19 or have COVID-19 antibodies at the time of vaccination.
In those trials, some individuals had prior infections, and evidence suggests that the vaccine was safe and effective for them.
Receiving a vaccine even after infection is also common practice with other viruses, such as influenza and the Human papillomavirus (HPV). To help ensure safety, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommends waiting until you have recovered from the illness if experiencing symptoms before receiving the vaccine (typically 10 days after the onset of symptoms).
Positive COVID-19 antibody tests and a prior COVID-19 infections do not guarantee immunity to the virus, making the COVID-19 vaccine recommended for individuals who have tested positive for the COVID-19 virus and/or for COVID-19 antibodies.
With regards to safety and efficacy, so far the Pfizer and Moderna vaccine trials have concentrated on individuals who were not already previously infected with COVID-19, so it's still not clear what the effect of vaccination will be on those who have been previously infected with COVID-19 or have COVID-19 antibodies at the time of vaccination.
In those trials, some individuals had prior infections, and evidence suggests that the vaccine was safe and effective for them.
Receiving a vaccine even after infection is also common practice with other viruses, such as influenza and the Human papillomavirus (HPV). To help ensure safety, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommends waiting until you have recovered from the illness if experiencing symptoms before receiving the vaccine (typically 10 days after the onset of symptoms).
Context and background
Ideally, everyone should receive a COVID-19 vaccine, even if they were previously infected with COVID-19 or have and have COVID-19 antibodies. However, whether individuals with present antibodies or previous infection will receive a vaccine (and when) is a decision made by jurisdictions distributing the vaccine, and the individuals themselves. In the U.S., this decision-making is being carried out by state health departments.
It is possible to have been infected and not test positive COVID-19 antibodies, but it's highly unlikely to test positive for COVID-19 antibodies without having been infected with COVID-19. This dynamic is due to the fact that scientists still do not know how long natural immunity to COVID-19 may last.
There have been a small number of people who have become reinfected with the virus following an initial infection, suggesting a weakening of antibody response over time. Initial studies demonstrate that approximately 70% of individuals infected with COVID-19 are likely to have strong antibody response, approximately 20% a weak antibody response, and approximately 5-6% will have no significant antibody response, and that even among the strongest antibody responses, lasting immunity is not assured.
Ideally, everyone should receive a COVID-19 vaccine, even if they were previously infected with COVID-19 or have and have COVID-19 antibodies. However, whether individuals with present antibodies or previous infection will receive a vaccine (and when) is a decision made by jurisdictions distributing the vaccine, and the individuals themselves. In the U.S., this decision-making is being carried out by state health departments.
It is possible to have been infected and not test positive COVID-19 antibodies, but it's highly unlikely to test positive for COVID-19 antibodies without having been infected with COVID-19. This dynamic is due to the fact that scientists still do not know how long natural immunity to COVID-19 may last.
There have been a small number of people who have become reinfected with the virus following an initial infection, suggesting a weakening of antibody response over time. Initial studies demonstrate that approximately 70% of individuals infected with COVID-19 are likely to have strong antibody response, approximately 20% a weak antibody response, and approximately 5-6% will have no significant antibody response, and that even among the strongest antibody responses, lasting immunity is not assured.
Resources
- Facts about COVID-19 Vaccines (CDC)
- Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices COVID-19 Work Group. Use of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine: Clinical Considerations (CDC)
- If You've Already Had COVID-19, Do You Need the Vaccine? Here's What Experts Say (Health)
- Should Docs Who Had COVID Still Get the Vaccine? — Healthcare workers consider giving up their spot in line in light of limited supply (Medpage Today)
- Facts about COVID-19 Vaccines (CDC)
- Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices COVID-19 Work Group. Use of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine: Clinical Considerations (CDC)
- If You've Already Had COVID-19, Do You Need the Vaccine? Here's What Experts Say (Health)
- Should Docs Who Had COVID Still Get the Vaccine? — Healthcare workers consider giving up their spot in line in light of limited supply (Medpage Today)
