With COVID-19 still around the multiple variants running rampant through our communities, vaccines and boosters are more important than ever. While you may build up some natural immunity if you have recently had COVID, you don’t necessarily have immunity to the variants. Getting tested is the only way to know for sure that you have COVID. AFC Burlington provides COVID-19 testing to all patients via online appointments. Make your appointment today and visit us to get tested.
COVID-19 & Natural Immunity
Natural immunity occurs when you get sick with a virus, and your body produces antibodies to fight it off. This natural immunity slowly decreases over time, making you susceptible to getting sick again in the future. In general, natural immunity is different depending on the germ.
Regarding COVID, this immunity will decrease over time, and it does so faster than vaccine immunity.
COVID-19 & Vaccine-Induced Immunity
Vaccine-induced immunity occurs when someone becomes fully vaccinated against an illness. With COVID, this may be with one or two initial shots, depending on the type you get. Since the vaccine immunity also reduces over time, it’s recommended to get a booster six months after you’re fully vaccinated. This will extend your immunity against COVID-19 and can prevent severe symptoms and hospitalizations if you do get sick.
Should I Get My Booster?
Regardless of whether you are fully vaccinated or have recently gotten sick with COVID, you should receive the booster vaccine as soon as you’re eligible. The vaccine is the best fight again the spread of COVID and can help prevent any severe symptoms.
The CDC has found that if you get vaccinated and have recently had COVID, your immune protection is significantly enhanced, and it furthers your risk of reinfection. Additional studies have found that if you get sick with COVID and do not get vaccinated, you are two times more likely to get sick again than someone who got vaccinated.
Lastly, another study found that in cases that needed hospitalizations from January to September 2021, those who were unvaccinated were 5.5 times more likely to get reinfected with COVID after having it once than for someone who had never had COVID but is vaccinated.
Receiving your booster simply adds an additional layer of protection to yourself. Those who have been fully vaccinated for six months are eligible to receive their booster. Do your part to stop the spread and get vaccinated today.
