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Original poster

I’ve got Covid AGAIN and it’s worse than 2020

49 replies

Mistlewoeandwhine · 12/10/2021 09:42

I’ve had one Pfizer jab and thought I’d have good antibodies from when I was (mildly) unwell in 2020 but I’m actually really ill. DH is the same as me (one Pfizer) and was really quite ill in 2020 and is equally unwell now. DS (aged 15) is unwell but not as unwell as he was in 2020 (he was extremely unwell and nearly hospitalised due to his non stop fever) and my other DS who is now 12 has been mildly ill but had zero symptoms in 2020.
So basically, only my teen who was very ill last time has got it more mildly. It seems pretty disappointing that the vaccines and the prior antibodies haven’t helped. I really believed that they would.

OP posts:
Tigerwhocameforsupper · 12/10/2021 09:43

Are you 100% sure it’s only covid you have and your don’t also have flu or a bad cold that your body is trying to fight at the same time?

Quartz2208 · 12/10/2021 09:44

But both of you have only had one vaccine? Are you not double jabbed.

And are you needing to be hospitialised?

TeeBee · 12/10/2021 09:45

Well you've only been half vaccinated. Naturally immunity is not as robust as vaccine-afforded immunity, and immunity wanes over time. So your experience would be absolutely as expected. Have you considered having the second vaccine?

Mellowfruitfulnessy · 12/10/2021 09:45

Any reason you only had one vaccine? The trouble is that doesn’t provide the same level of protection - but does provide some. I hope you feel better soon.

Aposterhasnoname · 12/10/2021 09:45

Well there you go then. Proof you need two vaccinations.

RavingAnnie · 12/10/2021 09:48

@Aposterhasnoname

Well there you go then. Proof you need two vaccinations.
Both my husband and so were double vaccinated and were very ill when we had covid a few months ago. So it's no guarantee.
roses2 · 12/10/2021 09:48

It's awful antibodies don't last and the potential of getting sick like this every 12-18 months is really depressing :(

Ignore the previous posted who talks about being double jabbed. This is irrelevant if the antibodies don't last past 6 months which is now well publicised in the press.

MarshaBradyo · 12/10/2021 09:50

Why only one Pfizer?

Did you get a positive test in 2020 and now

NigelSlatersXmasTaters · 12/10/2021 09:50

If your child was hospitalised first time round what made you only get one vaccine?!

Hopefully that one has gone some way to helping and you all get better soon.

ChristmasWithDC · 12/10/2021 09:52

Why have you only had one jab? That will almost certainly be the reason that you’re feeling so ill or you could also be suffering from another bug at the same time.

TeeBee · 12/10/2021 09:56

Also, you could have been infected with one variant and have picked up another now. Natural immunity would be very low against that but if you'd have chosen to get a full course of vaccination you would have higher cross-protection against numerous variants.

TeeBee · 12/10/2021 09:58

You might find this useful OP.

www.uk-cic.org/public/COVID-19-immunity-infographic

nordica · 12/10/2021 10:17

I understand your disappointment OP. For all the talk of herd immunity, it's not great news that prior infection and one vaccine don't seem to help more - especially as some countries have only been giving one vaccine to those who previously had covid.

The vaccines are still great at protecting us from serious illness and death of course, but are we all just going to get ill every 6-12 months for the foreseeable future?

scochran · 12/10/2021 10:29

I'm disappointed a bit as had covid once already and double jabbed but got it again. On the up side it's like a heavy cold , and I'm bored and not worried. 2x husband also got it and one 12 year old who hasn't had a chance to get his vacation yet. His letter came at same time as his illness . He will go for his in 4 weeks as advised.
I was at work before I tested positive so hoping vaccination has made me less contagious to others and that their vaccinations will protect them too.

TeeBee · 12/10/2021 10:48

scochran, well there you go, your double vaccine has worked. You're not in a hospital dying. Why are you disappointed? It done exactly what it has claimed to do...reduce the chance of severe disease. You have heavy cold symptoms. Isn't science wonderful!

ollyollyoxenfree · 12/10/2021 10:54

@nordica

I understand your disappointment OP. For all the talk of herd immunity, it's not great news that prior infection and one vaccine don't seem to help more - especially as some countries have only been giving one vaccine to those who previously had covid.

The vaccines are still great at protecting us from serious illness and death of course, but are we all just going to get ill every 6-12 months for the foreseeable future?

It should become more and more like 'flu

Each time you're exposed you'll be building up immunity (and hopefully not getting ill due to vaccines + previous infections), and so it will be considered more like the common respiratory viruses we have circulating.

I don't think I've ever had 'flu or if I have it hasn't given me more than cold symptoms.

doublemonkey · 12/10/2021 11:11

@TeeBee

scochran, well there you go, your double vaccine has worked. You're not in a hospital dying. Why are you disappointed? It done exactly what it has claimed to do...reduce the chance of severe disease. You have heavy cold symptoms. Isn't science wonderful!
This statement is ridiculous.

Only a tiny percentage of people who catch covid end up in hospital.

JS87 · 12/10/2021 11:36

There are plenty of double vaccinated people who also have it worse this time round.
It’s possible it’s because it’s a different variant. It is quite depressing though if we have to feel that ill every time we get it. I’ve only ever had bad flu once in my life where I’ve felt terrible and I’m over 40.

scochran · 12/10/2021 11:36

You can see I do think science is great as I've said there is an upside to being vaccinated even though I haven't avoided the illness. And that I'll still be vaccinating my son as soon as science tells me is safe.
I'm disappointed because I'm missing work all over again and the school are struggling to stay open, so I wish I could help.

IndigoC · 12/10/2021 12:03

This study found that hospitalisation was twice as likely on reinfection:

www.clinicalmicrobiologyandinfection.com/article/S1198-743X(21)00422-5/fulltext

So this idea that the second time you catch it will inevitably be milder seems to be off base.

Greyeverywhere · 12/10/2021 12:06

For those saying antibodies don't last, I had an antibody test in May which came back positive and had one a week ago which was also positive, have been shielding so definitely not had covid in that time, the only time I had it was Feb. So antibodies CAN last a longer time than 6 months and they actually should give more protection than the jab.
I'm booked in for a jab next week nonetheless because I'll be returning to work somewhere it's required.

tootootaataa · 12/10/2021 12:16

I am so sorry for you. It's a really fucking shit and horrid virus. I was very ill earlier this year, and I am actually really scared about what you are experiencing. I am waiting for half term to get my second Pfizer jab as the first one wiped me out for three days (teacher).

Sending un Mumsnetty hugs ThanksCakeBrew

herecomesthsun · 12/10/2021 12:18

Initially (after the first few weeks when beds were rationed very tightly) it was thought that 20% of people infected with covid might benefit from hospitalisation.

We have on the one hand better treatments now, but on the other hand, a more infectious variant.

I am really sorry OP is feeling poorly, but very glad for her and for all of us that we have the vaccines.

Lindy2 · 12/10/2021 12:20

The highest level of protection is from having had symptomatic Covid followed by double vaccination. The Zoe Covid study has some really interesting stats on this.

Unfortunately the single vaccination isn't enough. Why have neither of you had your second jab yet?

I hope you feel better soon. I had Covid in January 2020 so I know how awful it is. I'm double jabbed too because I definitely don't want to go through that again.

I hope your illness is at least shortened because of you having some protection.

ollyollyoxenfree · 12/10/2021 12:39

@IndigoC

This study found that hospitalisation was twice as likely on reinfection:

www.clinicalmicrobiologyandinfection.com/article/S1198-743X(21)00422-5/fulltext

So this idea that the second time you catch it will inevitably be milder seems to be off base.

They do explain that reinfection is also more common in people who are immunocompromised or with other high risk conditions, so it isn't necessarily that reinfection is in general more severe.