You may be wondering about your chances of getting infected or, worse, being hospitalized or dying if you get sick now that most US cities and states have dropped masking requirements and other precautions against Covid-19.
Researchers have been investigating this question, and in general, they've discovered that for people who are considered up to date on their Covid-19 vaccines – that is, they get a booster when it's recommended – protection against illness declines over three or four months after your last dose, but protection against hospitalization and death remains high.
This is why: Antibodies, the immune system's front-line defenders, gradually decline after an infection or vaccination. It's normal for them to fade away after a few months. However, it leaves your body vulnerable to another viral invasion.
The good news is that, while antibodies are essential for immune defense, they are not the end of the story. Other cells, such as B and T cells, are imprinted with the memory of the virus or vaccine, allowing them to create a new antibody army if they come into contact with the pathogen again.
It takes time to build an army, so you may experience some symptoms while your body prepares to fight. In the end, your immune system should come to your aid and assist you in recovering quickly.
This is how it is supposed to work in general. However, this process does not always go as planned for everyone. Older adults and those with weakened immune systems may require additional assistance to avoid the worst consequences of a Covid-19 infection.
After-infection defense
This is broken down in data presented this week to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices.
Here's how protection fared in real-world situations against an infection with the Omicron coronavirus variant that causes symptoms. If you have:
- Two doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine are 30% effective between two and four months after injections.
- Your vaccines are 55 percent effective between months 2 and 4 if you take one dose of Johnson & Johnson and one dose of an mRNA shot from Pfizer/BioNTech or Moderna.
- Your vaccines are 63 percent effective between months 2 and 4 after three doses of an mRNA shot.
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