UK policy re vaccines I’d already had Covid

[Alicay]

If you’ve tested positive for Covid, do you still have two doses of the vax? I’m moving back to the UK in the summer and the country I’m coming from only gives 1 dose, if you’ve already had Covid (deemed to give you enough protection). I’m worried I won’t ‘count’ as fully vaccinated.

Have tried to find answer to my question online, but can’t. TIA

You are not fully vaccinated until you have had 2 doses, regardless of whether or not you have tested positive at some point.

I've had covid and had my first jab 34 days after testing positive and have now had my second jab. Most of my work colleagues who also caught covid at the same time as me have just had their 2nd jabs or are booked in during the next 2 weeks.

Here in uk even though you’ve had covid, they are still giving both doses. The One dose vaccine hasn’t been approved here yet. We are getting Pfizer, Astra Zeneca and Moderna at the moment and these are all double doses.

Unless you had the J+J vaccine you will need a second whether you had Covid or not.

Here the full course is 2 jabs for everyone, regardless of whether they have had the disease.

I think it's something to discuss with your GP when you register, and hope they can put you in to the system for any further jab/s you need)

In the UK they are still giving two doses. Despite the fact the govts own research says having covid then having one dose (of Pfizer at least) is the same if not better as having never had covid and having two vaccine doses. The study mainly compared people who had never had covid and had one dose with people who had had covid and one dose, but also a few who had never had covid and had two doses. The results between the last two groups in terms of immune response were similar. This is probably why some countries are only giving one dose to people with confirmed previous covid infection.

www.gov.uk/government/news/new-study-finds-strong-immune-response-following-covid-19-vaccination

Key findings from the PITCH study
Among individuals who had not had COVID-19 in the past and had received 2 doses of the Pfizer vaccine, T cell response was as strong as people who had had previous COVID-19 infection and one vaccine dose.

After one dose of the Pfizer vaccine, individuals who had previous COVID-19 infection showed higher antibody and T cell responses compared with people who had not been infected before. Antibody responses were 6.8 times higher and T cell responses 5.9 times higher.

Among individuals who had not had COVID-19 in the past and had received one dose of the Pfizer vaccine, antibody and T cell responses were at a similar or higher level compared to those who had previously been infected but not been vaccinated.

There was a 10-fold greater spike-specific T cell responses following vaccination in people with previous infection compared to those who had no prior infection.

There was no link between age and levels of T cell/antibody response.

In this article on the BBC website www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-56538983 the main reason for still giving two doses is because lots of people think they had covid but didn't have it confirmed. So jab everyone to allow for the lowest common denominator of person who doesn't see the difference between thinking you've had it and knowing you've had it:

"These findings "inevitably" lead to debate about "whether vaccine supplies could be stretched further by offering only a single dose to those known to have been previously infected," said Prof Danny Altmann at Imperial College, London.

"For most of the world, including the UK, there may be sufficient diagnostic uncertainty as to who was definitely infected to make this approach hard to implement efficiently."

Given that it is known that none of the tests for covid are 100% accurate, it would be silly to have a system that withholds a second dose from those who have had a positive test because some of those people will have had some other infection which was misidentified as covid. A second dose won't do you any harm.

Unfortunately in the UK you need 2 doses to count as 'fully vaccinated'.

@KihoBebiluPute

Given that it is known that none of the tests for covid are 100% accurate, it would be silly to have a system that withholds a second dose from those who have had a positive test because some of those people will have had some other infection which was misidentified as covid. A second dose won't do you any harm.

I think it’s also to do with differing anti body responses, unknown length of impact time and not testing in the beginning so you’d have people saying “but I did have it” and they didn’t. It’s easier to vaccinate and “know” the response.

I would expect MHRA will look carefully at studies with that policy from e.g. France for long-term decisions, but as the perceived risk is longevity of immunity I wouldn't think the policy will change by summer. As long as it's a vaccine that's approved in the UK you'll be able to get a second dose here, just share all your records with the GP when you move.

DH has had covid twice. (He’s now in a research trial as he had symptoms both times and they are looking at his antibodies etc). He had his first vaccine 2 weeks ago and will have his second as normal.

So far there are no covid certificates that restrict your life if not fully vaxxed, OP. But that may well change.

If legally in UK, I imagine you can get a 2nd jab here if you want one -- to enable you to "fully engage in society" and other opportunities that may only be offered to the "fully vaccinated."

@KihoBebiluPute

Given that it is known that none of the tests for covid are 100% accurate, it would be silly to have a system that withholds a second dose from those who have had a positive test because some of those people will have had some other infection which was misidentified as covid. A second dose won't do you any harm.

How do you know a second dose won't do you any harm? It probably won't, but there are obviously no long term studies yet. Especially not in populations who have already had covid infections. And furthermore not in female populations who have had previous infections - potentially important since women make up 80% of those with autoimmune conditions. Given all of those factors it's not totally unreasonable to be hesitant about a second dose if it may not be necessary, and theres a lot of talk of full vax still needing regular boosters anyway.

I think it’s also to do with differing anti body responses, unknown length of impact time

The way I heard it explained on the radio (so anyone, please feel free to correct me if I’ve misunderstood) is the problem with naturally acquired immunity is there is no way to tell which bit of the virus your body has learnt to fight and will trigger an immune response. All of the vaccines train your immune system to recognise the spike protein which is one of the first bits it will encounter as the virus attaches itself to be able to multiply.

It was a fascinating discussion which I hope I’ve understood properly!

Am back (work deadline). Thanks for all the answers.

If anyone has the Covid app, does it look like there is a way of entering details of vaccinations you’ve had outside the UK? I’m in Switzerland and there’s talk of a similar scheme, but I’ve no idea if it would function in the UK/be accepted.

Moving home in a pandemic (we’ve no choice) is a nightmare!

It a NHS App rather than a Covid App which links to your NHS record. There may be a way of your NHS GP updating your NHS record to include vaccinations received elsewhere, which would then presumably show on the App?? I think you would have to discuss this with your GP once you register with them back in the U.K.

Nobody can answer your question because I doubt it's even been considered so far in government.

From a biological perspective, you're likely as protected as someone who hadn't had the virus, whose had 2 jabs. But quite how this will translate into the vaccine passports is anyone's guess.

At the same time, no other country has agreed to accept the NHS App as proof of vaccination status yet - but neither has any other country installed vaccine requirement rules yet (to my knowledge).

The easiest route may be for you to simply start again and have 2 jabs in the UK

Thanks, that is all a lot clearer. I will just have to leave things until I get back & finding a GP will be no1 priority.