Is the mask gone? How the coronavirus vaccine affects immunity

More and more people around the world are deciding to get vaccinated against coronavirus. At the time of publication, almost 13 million people in Russia (8.8% of the population) had been fully vaccinated. However, many people still have questions about how the vaccine works, who should be vaccinated and whether they can get infected. Let’s find out together with Ekaterina Usikova, a general practitioner at the European Medical Center.

How does the vaccine work?

Vaccination ensures the formation of immunity to the disease (specific antibodies), including coronavirus infection, artificially. That is, by vaccinating, we provide resistance to infection without getting sick. Once in the human body, the vaccine is recognized by immune cells as a threat and mimics all the reactions that occur in COVID-19 disease.

In doing so, vaccination is a safe way to build immunity. Because there are no live virus particles in the vaccine, a person cannot get COVID-19 because of the vaccination. The risks of adverse reactions are significantly less compared to the severe course of COVID-19 itself.

Under the influence of the vaccine, T-cell and humoral immunity is formed. The first recognizes the virus when its molecules try to enter the body, and is effective when the number of viral particles is small. And the second prevents them from spreading already inside, if a person comes into contact with a large concentration of the virus.

T-cell immunity is considered to be especially persistent. It is provided by T-cells, which are formed in the process of vaccination and live for decades. While the life of antibodies responsible for humoral immunity is not so long.

How long does the effect of vaccination last?

Research on how long immunity to COVID-19 lasts after vaccination is still ongoing. However, the doctor notes that this duration is individualized in each case. According to the currently available data, on average, we are talking about 6-8 months.

Do I need to be vaccinated if I have antibodies?

If you have had an infection (both symptomatic and asymptomatic) more than six months ago and have been found to have antibodies, vaccination is recommended. This will ensure that your immunity is maintained and reduce the risk of getting sick again.

Can I get sick after getting a coronavirus vaccination?

Unfortunately, vaccination does not provide a 100% guarantee of not being infected with COVID-19. The risk of disease depends not only on the presence of immunity. Thus, the immunogenicity of “Gam-COVID-Vac” (potential ability to induce an immune response) is 92%. This is due to the fact that in some cases immunity may not develop. For example, due to low immunologic activity in autoimmune diseases (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, etc.), oncological and oncohematologic diseases in the course of therapy, as well as after transplantation of solid organs and hematopoietic cells. In addition, the reason may be the intake of drugs that have a suppressive effect on immunity, and individual immunity to this type of vaccine.

In general, many factors influence the incidence of the disease, including the general condition of the body. Exacerbation of chronic illnesses or any acute illnesses will increase your risk of infection if you come into contact with the virus, even if you have recently had the vaccine.

It is worth remembering that vaccine immunity to COVID-19 not only helps reduce the risk of infection, but also prevents the development of severe forms of infection.

Can a person who has been vaccinated infect others?

It is not yet known for sure whether a vaccinated person can be an asymptomatic carrier of coronavirus. It is worth remembering that not only the possibilities of defense against COVID-19 are evolving, but also the virus itself.

It is not worth neglecting protection measures even after successful vaccination. You should wear masks in public places and transportation, wash your hands regularly and keep a social distance. According to scientists from China, wearing a mask and maintaining a social distance of 1.5-2 meters reduces the risk of the disease by 25%.