You should get vaccinated even if you have had COVID-19
If you have had COVID-19
If you had COVID-19 in the past three months, you may still have some protection from the virus. However, after those first three months, your chance of getting COVID-19 again increases, especially with new variants circulating.
Variants may be different from your initial infection and your natural immunity may not be able to protect you as well from the variants. The best way to protect yourself is to get vaccinated. You do not have to wait three months after recovering from COVID-19 to get vaccinated.
New research shows that people who are fully vaccinated get better protection from COVID-19 compared to those who only have natural immunity from a previous infection of COVID-19. A CDC report showed that unvaccinated people who already had COVID-19 are more than twice as likely than fully vaccinated people to get COVID-19 again: Reduced Risk of Reinfection with SARS-CoV-2 After COVID-19 Vaccination — Kentucky, May–June 2021.
You can get vaccinated as soon as you have completed your isolation period and are no longer contagious. This means it has been 10 days since you felt sick (or 10 days since you got tested if you do not have symptoms), and you feel better and have not have a fever for at least 24 hours. You do not have to get tested before getting a COVID-19 vaccine.
If you were treated for COVID-19 with monoclonal antibodies or convalescent plasma, you must wait 90 days before getting a COVID-19 vaccine. If you get the vaccine too early, your body may not build up enough protection against COVID-19. Talk to your doctor if you are unsure what treatments you received or if you have more questions about getting a COVID-19 vaccine.
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