A big yes! COVID-19 is a severe viral infection. It's highly possible to contract it again if you contact an infected person. When this occurs, we call it "reinfection."
However, COVID-19 reinfection is rare as most people who have once been infected don't get re-infected. Only about 0.7% of people who have once contracted COVID-19 got re-infected.
AFC Urgent Care Bedford provides COVID testing to all patients. While our tests will not say what variant you potentially have, our tests are reliable to know whether or not you're positive. Make an appointment to get tested and get your symptoms treated today.
How Reinfection Occurs
You are probably curious about why COVID-19 should trouble you again. There are countless mutated variants of the coronavirus that can cause reinfection.
So, the fact that if you've recovered from a particular variant doesn't mean you are immune to another variant. However, if you get vaccinated, you have a better chance of fighting off the virus without developing serious symptoms.
The immune system might see the mutated variant as a new type of virus; thus, reinfection could even be more severe than the first infection.
Most times, you can't even be sure if it is reinfection or not until you go for a test. People who have once suffered from Covid do experience post-COVID conditions. These conditions make them misinterpret normal common cold symptoms for Covid.
Hence, when you notice some unusual or persistent symptoms, please seek medical advice to confirm whether it is reinfection.
Are COVID Symptoms The Same?
Scientists report that most cases of reinfections come with closely similar symptoms as that of the first COVID-19, just that some symptoms tend to go milder on an infected person while some become more intense.
Does Vaccination Impact Re-infection?
Sure! Vaccination can have a significant impact on being reinfection in some strategic ways. There was a lot of casualty during the first wave of Covid-19, mostly due to our little understanding of the infection and a lack of vaccine.
The crux of this is that the vaccine will help you build strong immunity against the virus. The vaccine will work on you regardless of if you've been infected or not. Thus, the COVID-19 vaccine is a necessity.
However, if reinfection occurs, then what happens?
COVID-19 vaccine increases your chance of surviving by boosting your immunity when infected with COVID. It also greatly reduces the chances of coming down with severe. The vaccine as it is the best way to stay safe from the spread of the virus.
