This is probably a dumb question, but ...

[Teaseall]

We, my whole household, have all very recently had covid. It wasn't pleasant but so far we have all come through it although my 84 year old mother is struggling with weakness and mobility at the moment.

My question is, my parents are both due the vaccine soon (they are/were category 2 but infection put paid to that), they have to wait for 28 days post positive test but is there any evidence/articles out there that indicate that having the vaccine post infection increases protection from catching it again? Does the vaccine give them more protection even though I assume they currently have antibodies? Or is it like the flu vaccine, just protects against different annual strains?

Just trying to get my head around it really

I don't think there's enough data yet to answer your question. It is advised they still have the vaccine, and yes, they are to wait four weeks post infection. As for being better protected, we just don't know yet.

Glad to hear you're all recovering well.

I believe the vaccine gives more immunity than immunity from actually having had COVID. Someone will be along who knows more I’m sure.

It is recommended that anyone having Covid-19 also take the vaccine as re-infection with COVID-19 is possible and the immune response triggered by the vaccine was found stronger than the natural response from getting infected with the real virus.

Treat it as a booster dose for immunity. I think there is no rush given your parents were infected recently and but the recommendation is to get a vaccine.