People who have had Covid AND a vaccine are better protected
New research also shows having one jab gives most people a strong immune response
Last updated 26th Mar 2021
If you have had Covid-19 and also had your first vaccine jab, you're likely to be more immune than someone who hasn't already had coronavirus.
New research has been looking into how the immune system responds to the virus after one dose of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine.
They found that after one dose of the Pfizer vaccine, people who had already been infected were more immune than people who had not been infected before.
Antibody responses were 6.8 times higher and T cell responses were 5.9 times higher.
One vaccine gives most people a strong immune response
The Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine generates a robust immune response in 99% of people after one dose, according to the Protective Immunity from T cells to Covid-19 in Health workers study (Pitch).
One dose of the vaccine protects against severe disease and after two jabs, levels of protection are even stronger.
The findings support the UK policy of rapid rollout of one dose of vaccine to provide cover as quickly as possible for the higher-risk groups, researchers say, although the findings are yet to be peer reviewed.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock said: “The vaccine has already saved thousands of lives in the UK.
“A second vaccine jab is crucial for longer-term protection, regardless of whether you have previously had Covid-19 or not, and I urge everyone to make sure they attend their second appointment to keep themselves and those around them safe.”
The study, led by Sheffield and Oxford universities with support from the UK Coronavirus Immunology Consortium, was funded by the Department of Health and Social Care.
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