The vaccination campaign in France is continuing, with certain departments having difficulty obtaining an appointment, linked to stock shortages. What about people already infected with Covid-19? Should they be vaccinated?
One dose of vaccine
More than 2.1 million French people have received a first dose of one of the three anti-Covid vaccines (Pfizer / BioNtech, Moderna or AstraZeneca) and nearly 650,000, a second dose. If people who have already contracted Covid-19 are wondering if they can be vaccinated, the High Authority of Health (HAS) gives them a clear answer, in an opinion issued on February 12. She had already recommended vaccination in these former patients, but spent a minimum of three months after the end of the symptoms. Today, the HAS takes into account new immunological data and knowledge, emanating in particular from scientific work carried out by the Société de pathologie infectieuse de langue française (SPILF). Consequently, the health organization has updated its recommendations, based on the production of neutralizing antibodies and responses to a possible new infection.
The three-month wait remains valid, but it is preferable to ” get closer to 6 months ”, And in this case, to use only one dose of vaccine. Indeed, people infected with the Sars-Cov-2 coronavirus, showing symptoms or not, ” should be considered protected for at least 3 months by post-infectious immunity Says the report. On the other hand, beyond 6 months, there is still a lack of information to declare whether the immune response is still effective or not. The immune system of those people with a history of Covid-19 retains a memory. This is why a single dose is recommended to them, playing the role of reminder, and this, “ regardless of how old the infection is “. However, they are not part of the priority audiences solely on the basis of their age and the presence of co-morbidities.
Two types of excluded patients
The HAS still recommends the administration of two doses to people with proven immunosuppression and under an immunosuppressive treatment. These can be vaccinated after a period of three months after the onset of infection. On the other hand, those who are contaminated a few days after a first injection of the vaccine cannot receive the second dose within the usual timeframe, but within 3 to 6 months after infection. In addition, it is not recommended to make a ” pre-vaccine serology “. Patients with persistent symptoms of Covid-19 can be vaccinated if they wish, but it is advisable to consult their doctor first.
