A multicenter investigation, published in the scientific journal Vaccine, concludes that people vaccinated against COVID-19 who were previously infected with the virus experience vaccine adverse effects more frequently than those who have not gone through the viral process.
The study, which included the participation of the Jordi Gol Primary Care Research Institute (IDIAPJGol), found that people with a prior COVID-19 infection, SARS-CoV-2, reported adverse drug reactions more frequently after the first dose or booster dose than those who had not had the disease. However, after the second dose, people with a history of SARS-CoV-2 infection reported adverse effects less frequently than those who were not infected.
Regarding the average recovery time, the observed adverse reactions were similar for all doses and cases studied, meaning that having had COVID-19 does not influence the duration of adverse effects.
The study found similar results regarding symptom severity. The frequency of serious adverse effects was low for all doses and cases analyzed, regardless of whether the participants had previously had the disease or not, indicating that COVID-19 vaccines are safe for people who were previously infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
Public health policies
The study highlights the importance of vaccination strategies adopted. Nevertheless, it concludes that people infected with SARS-CoV-2 should wait a reasonable period before getting the COVID-19 vaccine in order to improve their immune response and reduce the risk of reinfection.
The work recommends monitoring vaccinated individuals who have previously had the disease and advises healthcare professionals to consider the safety profiles of each COVID-19 vaccine before administering them, especially in people who have already been infected. The study also proposes that public health agencies adapt vaccination policies according to observed safety profiles to optimize the benefits of immunization and minimize risks.
IDIAPJGol Central Research Unit investigator Felipe Villalobos emphasizes that “the findings of this study provide valuable insights that can guide public health policies, vaccination strategies, and communication efforts to improve the safety and efficacy of COVID-19 vaccination programs.”
Study reference
Raethke M, van Hunsel F, Luxi N, Lieber T, Bellitto C, Mulder E, Ciccimarra F, Riefolo F, Thurin NH, Roy D, Morton K, Villalobos F, Batel Marques F, Farcas A, Sonderlichová S, Belitser S, Klungel O, Trifirò G, Sturkenboom MC. Frequency and timing of adverse reactions to COVID-19 vaccines; A multi-country cohort event monitoring study. Vaccine. 2024 Mar 6:S0264-410X(24)00273-1. doi: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2024.03.001. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 38448322.
