Vaccine if you have had covid? Looking for scientific data

[windisblowing]

Sorry if there is already thread on this, I haven't located one.
DH and I disagree so I wondered if there was any data out there that would help inform our decisions.
We had covid this year, and were both very ill with it. We are now going to be eligible for vaccines soon.
One of us thinks we should get the vaccine, one of us thinks we now have antibodies so don't need to get it this year.
I am sure everyone has a different opinion on this, but is there any scientific data out there covering:

1.what risk we are at without the jabs?

1. what is the benefit of getting the jab if you already have antibodies
2. whether the reaction to the jab is different once you have had the virus?
3. is there any immune system risk to having the jab whilst we are already full of antibodies (one of us has peculiar immune responses to various things)

thanks all

I could have written this post following with interest, we are 50 I suffer from inflammation have done since an illness in my teens undiagnosed, but have struggled for years with pneumonia, anemia bowel broblems, can’t even have a tooth out without complications tissue overreacting so had 3 lots of drilling it away to reheat the list goes on, so I’m anxious for vaccine, plus currently can’t even get in car due to herniated discs🤨 husband doesn’t want it as he says he has antibodies I was really ill lots of antibiotics for chest and very ill for3 weeks temperature just wouldn’t stop going up, so yep shitting myself, but also don’t want to go through that again

I want to know this too.

We all have covid back in December and I have read people can react worse with the vaccine if you have had covid already.

not sure if relevant but the one of us with the out of whack immune system currently has long covid and is still ill with that

are there many cases of people getting covid twice?

The only advice I have heard (from doctor) is to wait at least a month after having covid before getting the jab. I believe that antibodies only last a few months don’t they? I know people who have had covid twice, once in the 1st wave and once in the 2nd so presumably natural antibodies don’t protect against new strains. As someone who had covid I would be interested in any data too.

I had Covid mildly at New Year. I had the AZ vaccine last week.

I believe that vaccination gives better and longer lasting immunity than natural infection especially with a mild case.

I did have a very strong reaction to the vaccine, high fever, muscle aches, headache, fatigue, sore arm, etc but it only lasted for around 24 hours. I hope that means that I had a good immune response.

I am relieved that I had it tbh.

Same situation for me - so am holding off - but I really have to go and do it. Just worried about the effects. Partner got really bad after effects for 1 week - and still now things flaring up 4 weeks later.

I also had covid very mildly, asymptomatic really, and I’m worried the vaccine will make me more ill than the virus. Obviously having it mildly once doesn’t mean I would have it mildly again, but I get the hesitation.

1. The risk of reinfection is quite low see this article: www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-00071-6

Sound like 86% protection which is similar to the vaccines.

1. The benefit is that it would be like a booster dose and reduce your risk further. A bit like having the second jab increases immunity after the first jab.

1. Yes, side effects are more likely if you have had Covid: covid.joinzoe.com/post/vaccine-after-effects-more-common-in-those-who-already-had-covid

This is a study on pfizer - 33% vs 19%

This one includes Astra Zeneca and reports the same effect: covid.joinzoe.com/post/vaccines-webinar-immune-variation

1. Not sure about that one I am afraid but they probably wouldn’t be suggesting boosters in the Autumn if it was true.

My other half had Covid (he suffers from long Covid a year since contracting it) He had blood tests which showed that he doesn't have antibodies and he has had the first vaccination so far and no ill effects from it.

If in doubt ask your GP but seriously I'd recommend the vaccine ASAP.

Serenade no 3 may be a scientific fact - it is not our experience nor that of others we know who have had Covid.

My cousin had covid in September. She has been donating convalescent plasma but just told few days ago that her titer is now below what 'they' want for donors. Her high level of antibodies had lasted almost 6months, anyway.

She still has antibodies, just not very high ones any more.

I would have zero worries about getting jab if I were OP but I don't pretend there is absolute cast iron data to give her on the questions she asked.

That’s good news. The percentage of people having side effects is quite low generally but anecdotally I have heard a lot of people say they have had side effects. I guess those that don’t, talk about it less.

windisblowing Other half seemingly recovered from Covid after 4 months, had a few weeks respite and then it came back with a vengeance for another 4 months so we don't think he caught it again but the virus was still in his system and flared up for some reason. He still has a few symptoms therefore is considered a long Covid sufferer.

This is all so interesting. So the antibodies last for 5/6 months, that is good to know, but they don't last forever, so we will benefit from the jabs.
We were both very ill with it in January, so assume we have a good stash of antibodies for a few more months.
What I don't know is whether the long covid sufferer still has antibodies whilst suffering long covid.
It would not be great to make things worse but it sounds like having the jab doesn't have a long term effect on immune disorders. Well guess we won't know that for a few years

I bet there are a lot of people wondering these same things, and also people not getting the jab because they think they are immune having had covid.

I had COVID back in April last year. Was quite unwell and prescribed antibiotics (I still don’t understand this but that was standard at the time) although not hospitalised.

I didn’t have antibodies detected when tested in September/ October but that said I could have T cell immunity as I understand it.

I’ve just had the COVID AZ jab last Thursday. Had mild flu like symptoms all Friday and was tired over the weekend and sore arm. Really glad I had it though!

Don’t assume you have antibodies. Me OH & I both had covid in December. All your typical symptoms, pretty poorly. We still have issues with our smell & taste, me worse than OH. We had a blood test in Feb as part of a trial and neither of us have antibodies 😱🙈 which is a bit mad! I thought we’d have some for ages! I have a masters degree in biology & immunology & I was really shocked we didn’t.

Thus, I’ll be getting the vaccine with bells on as you get a much better immune response from vaccines than illness in any case but clearly in covid, it’s potentially more important if natural antibody response can wain so quickly!

thanks HolmeE - that is so unexpected! All this data is going to help stop us arguing discussing what we should do. Much easier to make decisions with some data to hand!

Gertrude Perkins, I don't know much, no idea what T cells are - maybe my daughter can explain it to me

Serenade, those links are great, thank you.

Thanks for all the replies, it is so helpful.

This is obviously anecdotal and not scientific.
I had covid towards the end of Jan, tested positive the 23rd, I think.
Had my first Pfizer on the 27th Feb.

Like you I was worried I was going to have quite a strong immune response, but I was actually okay. That evening my arm started getting a bit sore, and I came over quite tired and achey, but I took myself to bed and by the next morning I was absolutely fine. The tender upper arm lasted for nearly a week but it was a small price to pay.

I’ve seen some studies online that suggest Covid antibodies + One dose of Pfizer is almost total protection.

I think it’s worth doing.

What harm is there to actually having the vaccine?

I had covid and the vaccine. Yes the vaccine made me feel like shit for a day or so, yes I had a sore arm. But I wouldn't really call these things to be concerned about. Its not long term or damaging side effects, its just feeling ill. And these side effects might have happened regardless

If you don't have the vaccine you may not have immunity, imagine getting covid on top of long covid?

Just have he bloody vaccine. If it wasn't safe for people whove had covid to have the vaccine they wouldn't offer it.

There's two powerful reasons to have the vaccine - both are connected to the difference between "wild" induced and "vaccine" induced immunity.

Because they use a simpler form of the key components of the virus in the vaccines, the immune system has a clearer picture of what to attack and remembers it for longer. This means that vaccine induced immunity (for this virus) is likely to last longer AND cover more mutations than "wild" immunity does.

For the variants currently circulating in the UK, SIREN has shown that "wild" immunity lasts at least 6 months at rates equivalent to vaccines which is good news. As a result some nations are using the vaccine as a booster to wild immunity - i.e. only having ONE jab. Presumably to save doses.

What I don't know is whether the long covid sufferer still has antibodies whilst suffering long covid.

No, in our experience he definitely doesn't have antibodies. When he had a test 3 month in he didn't have antibodies then, nor in the summer when he appeared clear of the virus. It was a no brainer for him to have the (Pfizer) vaccine and he had no ill effects from it.

I suspect we will all get used to having an annual jab just like we currently do with flu.

We've had covid. Wont be having the jab.