Do you still need vaccine if you have the antibodies?!!!

[toddlermom]

Hello all!

Not an anti Vaxer at all before anyone asks!! Just legit question.

if you have the Covid antibodies already. Then surely you don't need the vaccine (since the purpose of the vaccine is to get you to produce your own antibodies ??)

I had Covid 13 months ago and have done the blood test for antibodies twice ( just out of interest) , last one was last week. And currently have full Covid antibodies according to the test. The nurse said the antibodies should last like any other virus antibodies .

So therefore no need to take up the vaccine and can let other people who need it more to have them instead??? AIBU?

And leading on from that, surely there should be an antibody passport not just a vaccine passport??

Particularly interested in any medical professionals' opinions.

Thank you!!

It's not known how long the antibodies from having the virus will last. Evidence seems to show for many people antibodies reduce or disappear over time. The vaccine is still recommended to keep your protection levels up.

I've had Covid and I also intend to have my vaccine very soon.

Antibody passport would open a whole can of worms of suddenly testing everybody for them, how long after infection do you test, when do you retest etc. A lot of the vaccine rollout strategy is based on the idea that it is a lot simpler and overall cheaper to just vaccinate everyone you can. Opting people out for a bit because they had covid but then they have to come back in 6 months for a check because we don't know how long the antibodies last etc etc all just too much time and cost. Jab everyone, base all policy on jabs. Simple.

I would just take the vaccine when offered. The way we are rolling it means far more work is created by people calling up to question their eligibility than just turning up and getting it done

Probably no benefit to having the vaccine (although no way of knowing how long natural immunity lasts, it's unlikely to be less than vaccine induced immunity). If there is a new vaccine for different variants it could be worthwhile.
For simplicity they are offering the vaccine to everyone regardless, but only because there is currently a lack of information as it's all so new. In general there is no point having a vaccine for a disease you've recently had.
I probably wouldn't bother having the vaccine after having had covid, unless required for travel etc. If I was high risk or elderly I would probably have the vaccine regardless.

But agree with pp in that if you want it just get it, turning it down just creates more hassle and doesn't mean someone else gets it quicker

So therefore no need to take up the vaccine and can let other people who need it more to have them instead??? AIBU?

People refusing vaccine doesn't magically make it go to someone who "need" it more. As pps said, take it when invited. It's much less hassle than having paperwork because someone refuses now, bit will want it in few months when their antibodies drop.

It's much less hassle than having paperwork because someone refuses now, bit will want it in few months when their antibodies drop.

A few people have made this point. Could you explain how that works - what is the paperwork or hassle caused by someone not taking up the offer of the vaccine promptly?

The reason I ask is because I've been offered the vaccine early on a technicality. I am not actually in any more need than other people my age. So I was planning to wait until the rest of my age group is offered it. It feels unfair to take it now.

I didn't think waiting would cause any problems for anyone. I don't have to "refuse" it, I just don't book an appointment yet, right? Which means more appointments are available now for others.

Am I misunderstanding the admin behind it?

The antibody test doesn’t show you have “full” antibodies.
It simply gives you a result of positive or negative and it’s still hard to pinpoint when exactly you may have had Covid if you were asymptotic.
The result could be false too.
I would still have the vaccine if you want it OP.

@Saracen

It's much less hassle than having paperwork because someone refuses now, bit will want it in few months when their antibodies drop.

A few people have made this point. Could you explain how that works - what is the paperwork or hassle caused by someone not taking up the offer of the vaccine promptly?

The reason I ask is because I've been offered the vaccine early on a technicality. I am not actually in any more need than other people my age. So I was planning to wait until the rest of my age group is offered it. It feels unfair to take it now.

I didn't think waiting would cause any problems for anyone. I don't have to "refuse" it, I just don't book an appointment yet, right? Which means more appointments are available now for others.

Am I misunderstanding the admin behind it?

I don't know anything about the process but I'd just say I don't know anyone who has struggled to book an appointment when it has been offered to them. Usually you can get one within one or two days, so I really wouldn't worry about taking up space. Any person vaccinated is another person vaccinated. If you've been offered it, take them up on the offer and get done, you're still helping the community effort.

The antibodies you get from the vaccine are supposed to be more numerous and have greater longevity. So the experts say even if you had covid have the jabs too. They offer you greater protection.

Not a GP but did get some info recently from a medic I know about vaccines/prior exposure. They have been doing daily tests on vaccine effect on patients who previously have had covid - not proper research (and not trying to be). Their observation was that anti-spike antibodies shot up within a week of first vaccination to maximum levels - much faster/harder reaction in anti-spike levels than from non-covid patients (which apparently meander gently upwards for three weeks). Their inference from this that there may be no benefit from a second vaccination (but probably no harm in a second vaccination anyway) They were very careful to point out this was anecdotal and people should watch for proper research about this over the coming weeks. They also noted that apparently in France people are getting only one dose rather than two if they had previously had covid (Medic not happy with this approach because France aren’t testing for spike levels and blanket approach not a good thing).
Nowhere was there any indication at all that previously exposed people should not go for even the first dose, and they definitely took a view that it was likely that no harm would be done in having even two doses on top of prior exposure. All of the above is just one persons opinion of course, even if they are a medical professional. And medic was very clear to point out these are just his views and absolutely not formal medical advice.
If I were in your position (but with the advantage of knowing the medic personally) I would probably get a first dose to ‘cement’ my protection, and wait and see before deciding on a second dose. If I were you I’d note the above and do some more research on account of the fact that you don’t know me from Adam and I’m just another random on the Internet.
Note also that all of the above related to anti-spike antibody tests - I think there are now different types of covid antibody tests (and these tests are definitely not the same as the ones that came out last summer) so you may want to check exactly what type you’ve had and whether they are measuring the exact level of antibodies, or just the existence of antibodies.
Hope that helps.

There need to be an alert at the top of MN de-bunking these anti-vaxxer threads.

Get yourselves vaccinated.

:mad:

Just take the vaccine if you are offered it. If for nothing else than you might need to show you've had it for any particular reason.we don't know how long anti bodies last etc
There is no.point saying I will wait longer if you've been offered it , you are one out of millions. If you have it you contribute to the immunity of the population as far as I know and your another off the list. Why waste nhs money having repeat anti body tests?

I saw a virologist, Chris Smith I think, on a morning news programme, he said getting the vaccine is far more effective than having had the virus itself, didn't go into detail though

It doesn’t help any person in any way to refuse the vaccine. People are acting like it’s some kind of noble self-sacrifice to refuse an appointment they have been offered, when the reality is that it doesn’t magically free up a space for someone else, and every single person vaccinated is a contribution to the overall effort. If you’re offered a vaccine the only responsible and sensible course of action is to take it.

Here’s the thing I had Covid in April - antibody test in July said yes antibodies present - got Covid again end of October.
The antibodies can reduce dramatically over 6 months or you could just be lucky not contracting it again.
I work in healthcare so was exposed to it every day.
I suppose in answer to your question it does give you some cover but I would definitely want to be topped up with vaccine annually.

ilovebagpuss did you get it more badly or less badly the second time? Just wondering if having had it, your body was better equipped to fight it? Or did it make no difference?

Probably safer to have the vaccine just in case. I had covid and have then had the vaccine 2 months later

Hi op I was wondering this too

I've had covid
I've had the first vaccine in December
Do I still need the second one ?
I'm due to have the second one next week!
I also had an antibody test last week and I have good antibodies.
People are still saying I still need the second one, but I'm worried it will overwhelm my immune system

@toddlermom I had antibodies in June and December. I had my first jab in January and am due my second one. No one knows how many antibodies you have or how long they will last for. Why would you not just have it to protect the whole population and get us out of this mess.

@Saracen

It's much less hassle than having paperwork because someone refuses now, bit will want it in few months when their antibodies drop.

A few people have made this point. Could you explain how that works - what is the paperwork or hassle caused by someone not taking up the offer of the vaccine promptly?

The reason I ask is because I've been offered the vaccine early on a technicality. I am not actually in any more need than other people my age. So I was planning to wait until the rest of my age group is offered it. It feels unfair to take it now.

I didn't think waiting would cause any problems for anyone. I don't have to "refuse" it, I just don't book an appointment yet, right? Which means more appointments are available now for others.

Am I misunderstanding the admin behind it?

Someone will have to ensure you are in that different group. As far as I know you just don't automatically move (I think that's obvious because people who don't wang it would end up claiming harassment or something's if they kept getting invites every 3 weeks) so you will have to call, someone will have to fill up something somewhere and so on.

Just take it when you are invited. No one "more worthy" is getting it if you refuse

Second case less symptoms just felt tired and a bit off. However some colleagues had the second case and were quite unwell. Not seriously unwell I should add.
I would get vaccinated up to the hilt you can’t overload your system it’s not a mega dose of Covid! Just get it all in there

The thing us how does anyone know when your anti bodies decline? Ard you going to be testing every couple of weeks ?

Re the admin it must be a huge system running the program probably not set up for individualprefernces on timing of the jab. If you say no I don't want the vacine now I want it in 6 months you have to contact someone to hopefully update the system correctly. The system has to recognise you are only delaying not refusing the vacine and then hope the system correctly contacts you when you asked. If not you then have to contact someone again in 6 months to ask if you can get the vaccine now and explain why you refused it 6 months prior.

Or you could just get the vacine now which will be much more straight forward and have little to no impact on 'someone more vulnerable ' getting the jab.

I don't have a reference source, but I looked a few weeks ago when I was offered the vaccine, and the NHS advice was to still get the vaccine if you've had covid.
You need to leave 28 days from testing positive and having the vaccine.

As pps have said, nobody is certain yet about how long any antibodies will last.

Interestingly I read the other day that vaccination has proved very helpful for people suffering from long Covid.