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Teacher: Really stupid to think that
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Soon, many Swedes will be able to get vaccinated against covid-19.
At the same time, some argue that the disease should be chosen over vaccines, in the belief that it would provide more effective immunity.
– I think it’s really stupid to think like that, says Jan Albert, professor of infection control at the Karolinska Institutet.
The hope for a corona vaccine is increasingly real.
In the UK, vaccinations of residents have already started and according to Sweden’s Vaccine Coordinator Richard Bergström, five million Swedes can be vaccinated before summer, starting after the New Year’s weekend.
At the same time, many Swedes are concerned about side effects and hesitate to get vaccinated.
The question that many are asking now is if you really need to be vaccinated, if you have already had a natural infection with covid-19.
Aftonbladet has let two experts express their views on this.
Photo: CAROLINA BYRMO
Matti Sällberg, professor of biomedical analysis at Karolinska Institutet.
Matti Sällberg, Professor of Biomedical Analysis at Karolinska Institutet
Does a vaccine offer better protection than “natural” antibodies after recovery?
– Probably yes, as vaccines give equally good immune responses in most vaccinated people, whereas the course of infection differs greatly between different people and therefore also the strength of the immune response.
“Impossible to answer”
But it is not clear if immunity from a previous COVID-19 infection can be compared to the protection of vaccines.
– Depending on the vaccine, immunity varies. As for Pfizer and Moderna, it may be a bit better than an infection, but we don’t know at the moment. However, those who have already been infected with covid-19 do not have to put themselves first in the vaccination queue, but it cannot be ruled out that it may be good to get vaccinated even if you have had the infection for long-term protection.
Do you think there may be risks in getting vaccinated if you have already had covid-19?
– It is impossible to answer, but there are probably no risks.
Up to 119 days
What are the latest findings on antibodies and covid-19? How long do they last and are they effective in protecting against a new infection?
– Modern has tracked how long the antibodies stay, and it shows up to 119 days after the first vaccination with your vaccine.
Some argue that disease should be chosen over vaccines, which would provide more effective immunity. What do you think about this?
– Which is just stupid.
Photo: Janerik Henriksson / TT
Jan Albert, professor of infection control at Karolinska Institutet.
Jan Albert, Professor of Infection Control at Karolinska Institutet
What gives a stronger immune response: a natural infection or a vaccine?
– In general, a natural infection usually provides stronger protection, but it depends on the vaccine. With regards to covid-19, there are now so many different ones, which means that at this point we don’t really know how it will work, but at best the vaccine provides as good or better protection than a natural infection.
“Really stupid to think that”
Should those who have been diagnosed with COVID-19 and received antibodies be vaccinated or can they abstain?
– People who have had a more serious infection have higher antibody levels than those who have had a milder infection. However, in the long run, the antibodies disappear and become more difficult to detect, but this does not mean that the immunity is gone, but you still have an immune memory that is activated if you are re-infected.
– There will be detailed information on this, but my assessment is that it is not dangerous to get vaccinated if you have had a natural infection. But those who have already been diagnosed with COVID-19 do not need to be at the front of the vaccination queue, as they likely still have protection against their natural infection left.
Some argue that disease should be chosen over vaccines, which would provide more effective immunity. What do you think about this?
– I think it’s really stupid to think like that. Partly because you are not sure if you are fully protected if you have had the infection. It is known that most people get antibodies, but it is not certain that that protection is better. Also, it is much more dangerous to be exposed to the infection, even for young people, who can have long-lasting symptoms.
The immune system improves
What are the latest findings on antibodies and covid-19? How long do they last and are they effective in protecting against a new infection?
– How quickly antibodies decrease is being investigated and it is not yet completely clear how well the antibodies provide protection, but the vaccines that have been tested indicate that it has good protection and lasts for a while.
Is it true that you can boost your immune system even more with a vaccine? If you have been infected with covid-19 and then get vaccinated, does the immunity I got when I got infected increase?
– If you have had an infection and then have been exposed again, either naturally or through a vaccine, this will reactivate the immune system again due to the immune memory of the body. But it would be an exaggeration to say that it will be a super effect, but in general it works for the immune system to strengthen and improve with repeated vaccination or natural infection.
Photo: Fredrik Sandberg / TT / TT NEWS AGENCY
Stock Photography.
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