The dreaded covid

[robertsw]

Hi

Having recently come home from a holiday, both my husband and I have tested positive for covid. He’s never had it so he’s been quite poorly, I’m the one on watch and wait with CLL, I’m feeling not as rough but I’ve had it a year ago, and have had all the vaccinations offered me and so has hubby.

On coming home I had messages to book in for flu and covid jabs, I rang surgery to say I actually had covid and they just said “Oh ok when you are negative just book in for them”

I was surprised as before you had to wait I’m sure at least 28 days after you had had covid?

Apparently not now, has anyone else experienced this and had jab directly after having covid?

Thanks to anyone who replies.

[lankisterguy Volunteer]

Hi robertsw,

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We had a posting 3 weeks ago that includes suggestions from a PhD immunologist:

healthunlocked.com/cllsuppo...

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SNIP (quote): "How long after infection/vaccination should I wait?

This is tricky.

We have frustratingly scarce scientific guidance on timing. What we do have tells us this:

Minimum wait: 2-3 months. A Covid-19 vaccine doesn’t add much benefit within 2-3 months of infection. We don’t have to wait 2-3 months after infection—we won’t “exhaust” or “overwhelm” our immune system. But waiting will ensure we broaden B cells (our second line of defense; our antibody factory that stores some long-term-memory). With an updated vaccine formula, we want our factory updated.

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Maximum wait 8-12 months: The longer we wait, the more we get out of the vaccine. One study found that waiting 8 months increased neutralizing antibodies 11 times more than waiting 3 months after infection. Another study found a 12-month interval improved vaccine effectiveness against hospitalization.

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BUT waiting is a gamble. Even if a vaccine sooner is not as good as it could be, it’s better than waiting too long and catching Covid with limited protection, especially for high-risk people.

SO, this is what I’m suggesting to my family:

Over 65 or at risk for severe disease: Get vaccine 4 months after infection/previous vaccine. Don’t wait more than 6 months. (Go here to understand why older adults need more urgent protection.)

Under 65 and not high risk: Wait at least 6 months. Ideally, get vaccinated once a winter wave starts taking off. (Getting it by Halloween is a good bet.) This is what I will be doing with my family. But remember, we have very little/no protection against infection until we do. So, other layers of protection are especially needed."

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Len

[olyocl]

I tested positive for Covid on 20th September, have an appointment for Flu and Covid vaccine this Sunday 8th, I phoned the number on the letter from vaccine centre and asked them if it was alright for me to have vaccine so close to having Covid and they informed me it was alright.