After testing positive for COVID-19, most people then have detectable antibodies that protect them from the virus. Experts continue to debate whether the immune response created by the body is as efficient as the one generated by the vaccine. If you have been infected with COVID-19 and you are wondering whether you are now immune, here’s what you should know.
Rate of protection against infection
Once you have contracted COVID-19, the immune response of the body offers around 80% protection against another infection. On the other hand, those who are fully vaccinated with Pfizer or Moderna shots have a 95% protection level. However, one possible weakness of the vaccines is the fact that the protections tend to decrease slightly in time.
Getting the vaccine
After a COVID-19 infection, vaccination might not be needed right away. It is advised to discuss with your doctor and decide on the best moment for the COVID-19 vaccine. For example, in some cases, vaccines can be taken as soon as the quarantine period is over. However, if you have been treated with convalescent plasma or monoclonal antibodies, you should wait 90 days before you can get the vaccine.
Vaccines continue to be the best protection method against the virus, as unvaccinated people are two times more likely to become infected a second time.
Immunity for the Delta variant
Those who had been infected with the Alpha variant of COVID-19 may be wondering whether they are protected against the Delta variant as well. The good news is that the antibodies are supposed to protect you from any type of COVID-19 variant. However, there is an important side note. The more different a new variant is, the lower your protection level gets. Therefore, it is still possible to catch the Delta variant.
