If you've had COVID-19 before, you probably remember the experience well. Getting tested , taking medication, staying home and isolating yourself for days, and wondering if you'll ever fully recover... You probably remember it all. You probably even got the vaccine, thinking you'd never have to go through something like this again.
But now you've got symptoms like chills, fever, sore throat, and runny nose again. You're probably thinking, "Oh, is this Covid-19 again?" Yes, it 's entirely possible . Research has now shown that it's possible to get Covid-19 not just twice, but multiple times.
We're talking about having COVID-19, recovering, and then getting it again. That's what we call `(Reinfection)` in medicine. But there's another thing, and that's `(Long COVID)`. That means new, recurring, ongoing health problems that arise weeks, months, and maybe even years after you've had COVID. The two are related. Because, as research shows, every time you get COVID, your risk of getting `(Long COVID)` increases . So that's it, let's be careful about this.
Can Covid-19 really recur?
Yes. Once you have COVID-19, your body develops some protection, called immunity, against the virus. This protection usually lasts for a few months, but gradually wanes over time. Very rarely, some people can become infected again, even within a few weeks.
Symptoms are usually not as severe the second time you get the virus. However, some people can be very sick. Older people and people with weakened immune systems (such as cancer patients and organ transplant recipients) are at a higher risk of becoming seriously ill if they get it again. In general, the protection from severe symptoms lasts longer than the protection from a new infection. Also, remember that as long as you are infected, you can spread the virus to others .
Even if you get all your Covid shots on time, you can still get infected again and spread the virus to others. But compared to someone who hasn't been fully vaccinated, you're much less likely to develop severe symptoms and be hospitalized. When the virus gets past your vaccine-induced immunity and enters your body, doctors call it a ``Breakthrough Infection ''.
How does immunity develop after an infection?
We have our immune system to thank for this natural protection we get when we get COVID. Simply put, it's like our body's army. This system kicks into action as soon as a germ enters the body.
The way this works is very simple:
- Bacteria and viruses (like the virus that causes Covid) have proteins on their surface. We call them ``Antigens''. Each germ has a unique ``Antigen''.
- The white blood cells in our immune system make another type of protein called ``Antibodies'' to fight this ``Antigen''. Just like a key gets stuck in a lock, these ``Antibodies'' go and bind to the ``Antigen'' and destroy the invading germ.
- Once you get a virus, your body makes "memory cells." If the same virus comes into your body again, these memory cells recognize it and tell your immune system to quickly make new antibodies.
But this system is not 100% perfect. Viruses can mutate and create new ``variants'', which makes it a little harder for our immune system to recognize this new invader.
Are viral variants causing the disease to recur?
Yes, that's the main reason. Since the virus ( SARS-CoV-2 ) that causes COVID-19 began infecting humans, it has been mutating and creating new variants. These mutations are caused by changes in the virus's genes. These changes allow the virus to evade the protection you may have received from a previous infection or a vaccine.
Imagine, the `(Delta)` variant that spread in early 2021 spread faster than the variants that came before it. The `( Omicron )` variant that came in late 2021 spread even faster than `(Delta)`.
Can you get Omicron twice?
Yes, it is possible. The `(Omicron)` variant also continues to spread by creating sub-variants. If you had Covid in 2022 or 2023, it was most likely an `(Omicron)` variant. So there is no reason to think that you cannot have `(Omicron)` twice or more. But it is difficult to know for sure. Because the Covid tests we usually do cannot detect which variant of the virus.
Who is at higher risk of contracting Covid again?
Anyone can get COVID-19 more than once. But some people are at higher risk than others. Let's take a look at who they are.
| High-risk group | Reason |
|---|---|
| Those who have not been vaccinated | Research shows that unvaccinated people are twice as likely to be reinfected as vaccinated people. The protection provided by the vaccine lasts longer than natural immunity. |
| Immunocompromised people | If your immune system is weak, you are more likely to get COVID again, even if you have been vaccinated and have had it before. This is because the vaccine may not be as effective for you as it is for others. If you fall into this category, talk to your doctor about a vaccination schedule that is right for you. |
How to prevent a resurgence of Covid?
The only way to prevent a resurgence of COVID is to do the same things we did to protect ourselves from COVID in the first place.
- Get your COVID vaccine on time: Follow the advice from health authorities about when to get your next dose. This is especially important for people with weakened immune systems. If you have questions about when to get your vaccine, ask your doctor .
- Maintain good ventilation: Keep your home and workplace as well ventilated as possible. This can be done by opening windows or using a fan.
- Do activities outdoors: COVID spreads most easily in crowded, closed indoor spaces. So, especially during times of community spread of COVID, it's best to do group activities outdoors.
- Stay away from infected people: If you know someone has COVID, it's best to stay away from that person until the risk of spreading the virus is low (at least 5 days). If that's not possible, wear a mask, wash your hands frequently, and try to maintain good ventilation.
If there are many COVID cases in your area, or you are at high risk of developing COVID complications, you can do these things to be even safer:
- Wear a high-quality mask, such as an N-95 . It should cover your mouth and nose well and fit snugly.
- Avoid crowded places and keep your distance from others in public places.
Take-Home Message
- Yes, you can get COVID-19 more than once, that is, twice or more . We call this `(Reinfection)`.
- The protection provided by a previous infection or vaccination wanes over time, and new virus variants can bypass this protection.
- Getting the Covid vaccine on time can greatly prevent the severity of the disease and hospitalization even if you are reinfected.
- Every time you get COVID, the risk of developing a ``Long COVID'' condition, which causes long-term health problems, increases .
- The best ways to prevent reinfection are to get vaccinated, maintain good ventilation, avoid crowded places, and wear a mask.
- If you have any questions about your health or getting vaccinated, please talk to your doctor .
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