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Original poster

Is there a waiting time after having covid before vaccine?

30 replies

Getawaywithit · 15/08/2021 11:06

My 17 year old has recently had covid. He really wants to be vaccinated as soon as. I seem to remember being asked if I’d had covid within the last few weeks when I got my vaccination. Is there a waiting time between having covid and being able to have the vaccine?

OP posts:
Budsaway · 15/08/2021 11:07

I think it's 28 days.

Reallybadidea · 15/08/2021 11:07

Yes, minimum of 4 weeks after your positive result

LividLackey · 15/08/2021 11:13

Yes, about 3-4 weeks I think.

One potential reason is that sooner than that the risk is that your antibody level would be so high that the vaccine/viral proteins you produce because of that vaccine will be mopped up by those pre-existing antibodies. If that happens too quickly then your B cells won't be/ will be less exposed to those vaccine antigens and therefore your immune system won't be stimulated. You need B and T cells stimulated to get long term immunity.

LividLackey · 15/08/2021 11:14

Or you could produce an overly strong response that might make you feel quite poorly whilst not getting the optimum dosing between immune stimulations

Original poster
Getawaywithit · 15/08/2021 11:20

Thanks. 28 days rings a bell. Would that be 28 days from the date of the PCR test? He really didn’t have symptoms other than loss of smell which is still ongoing for him.

OP posts:
Lindy2 · 15/08/2021 11:33

Yes, 28 days from the positive PCR.

I got my vaccine invitation through whilst I had covid. I had to wait a while before booking my appointment.

Waxonwaxoff0 · 15/08/2021 17:05

4 weeks. I was supposed to get my second tomorrow and tested positive yesterday! Frustrating.

Watsername · 15/08/2021 19:19

My DS was jabbed on Friday but we are waiting for a PCR test after a weak positive LFT this morning (less than 2 days later). Is that bad? Will it affect his immunity if he’s actually got Covid?

Porcupineintherough · 15/08/2021 21:10

@Watsername the vaccine will be neutral at this point. Wont hurt but wont help.

bumbleymummy · 15/08/2021 21:14

28 days.

Why does he still want the vaccine though? Immunity after infection has been found to be durable for 9+ months. Up to 12 in a recent study that included delta.

Porcupineintherough · 15/08/2021 21:23

@bumbleymummy dont believe everything you read. Quite a lot of people make very short lived antibodies, esp if they havent been very sick. I've had COVID twice, second time at Christmas. I had no antibodies 6 weeks later.

bumbleymummy · 15/08/2021 21:34

Antibodies aren’t the only measure of immunity and, no offence, but I’m more inclined to believe all the studies that have showed durable immunity in the majority of people.

www.hiqa.ie/sites/default/files/2021-06/Duration-of%20protective-immunity-evidence-summary_22-June-2021.pdf

(Preprint (12 months))
www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.08.12.21261951v1

Porcupineintherough · 15/08/2021 21:43

Antibodies arent the only measure of immunity

Um, what then? Antibodies are what stop you getting reinfected. Other part of the immune system eg t cell response can stop you getting seriously ill but they wont prevent you catching it.

Ask yourself why the medical authorities are encouraging universal adult vaccination regardless of prior infection status.

bumbleymummy · 15/08/2021 21:56

Antibodies aren’t the only measure of immunity - you may still be immune even though your antibody levels have dropped.

Some countries only recommend a single vaccination after infection. Immunity is presumed for 6 months for the green pass in most European countries (Ireland recently recommended it be extended to 9 - see above document)

When the JCVI were weighing up the evidence for offering the vaccine to teens, it was a very fine balance between benefit/risk in that age group. Already being immune after infection may tip that balance.

Wellbythebloodyhell · 15/08/2021 22:02

He needs to wait 28 days past confirmed positive PCR result before he can be vaccinated

Original poster
Getawaywithit · 16/08/2021 09:03

Why does he still want the vaccine though?

Because he wants to be part of the solution?
Because his brother is CV?
Because he has seen a friend his age hospitalised with it?
Because he doesn’t need to justify himself to anyone?

OP posts:
bumbleymummy · 16/08/2021 10:19

@Getawaywithit
People who are immune from either the vaccine or from previous infection are all ‘part of the solution’ and are not a risk to others. Why is he still worried about ending up in hospital when he’s had the virus without any ill effects?

No, he doesn’t need to justify his decision. I do find it surprising that so many people don’t realise that infection also confers durable immunity though.

Lindy2 · 16/08/2021 15:13

@Getawaywithit

Why does he still want the vaccine though?

Because he wants to be part of the solution?
Because his brother is CV?
Because he has seen a friend his age hospitalised with it?
Because he doesn’t need to justify himself to anyone?

And OP because he is making the sensible choice.
Lindy2 · 16/08/2021 15:15

I've had Covid and am also now double jabbed. I don't want to find out that my post infection protection has faded by catching the bloody virus again. It was horrible enough first time round. I intend to continue to protect myself in every way available.

bumbleymummy · 16/08/2021 17:31

Reinfection is rare and second infections have tended to be milder. If the vaccine reassures you then by all means have it though.

Waxonwaxoff0 · 16/08/2021 17:59

@bumbleymummy

Reinfection is rare and second infections have tended to be milder. If the vaccine reassures you then by all means have it though.
It won't hurt to have it though. I currently have Covid, had one jab and will be having my second jab when I can. Why not? It won't do any harm.
bumbleymummy · 16/08/2021 18:57

Well, it depends if you have side effects to the vaccine or not.

“ Studies show that people with previous exposure to SARS-CoV-2 tend to mount powerful immune responses to single shots, and gain little added benefit from another injection1,2,3. What’s more, for people with immunity gained through infection, one dose typically boosts antibody numbers to levels that are equal to, or often greater than, those found in individuals who have not been infected and have received double doses.”

www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-01609-4

There is also more evidence now that immunity after infection is durable.

OrangeBananaFish · 16/08/2021 19:10

@Waxonwaxoff0 Same happened to me. I was all set to have my second jab, but tested positive in the week before. I am allowed to have my jab from today, but I'm waiting until the weekend just so I'm not at work should I get any side effects.

Be warned though the NHS were very keen to get me to make my second appointment (I couldn't book anything past my 28 days for a while) and I kept getting texts and emails. I also got one letter.

bumbleymummy · 16/08/2021 19:17

I wonder are we going to review our policy of 2 vaccines for previously infected people in the U.K. given all the findings from these studies. I mean, if we’re supposed to be following the science…

worriedatthemoment · 16/08/2021 19:45

Some on here have had covid twice though , what sort if gap between did anyone have who has had it twice ?

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