The risk of hospitalization, organ damage and death increases markedly with COVID-19 reinfection, according to Harvard Magazine, the magazine of Harvard University.
Specifically, assistant professor of medicine Amy Barczak shared a Nature study that used data from the Veterans Administration to assess the cumulative risk of long-term effects in people with one, two, three, or more SARS-CoV infections. 2, compared to uninfected controls.
The data show a consistent pattern of increased likelihood of hospitalization, cardiovascular effects, clotting and other blood disorders, diabetes, fatigue, gastrointestinal distress, kidney damage, mental health effects such as depression, musculoskeletal damage, neurological deficits, and lung damage with each episode .
Previous infection does not change the course of the disease in subsequent infections, only the risk of serious complications. That risk is related to baseline health status, including comorbidities such as obesity and other preexisting conditions, and increases with age.
"We know that immunity wanes over time," and while "protection is a complicated thing, there is clearly a downward slope in protection over time, after infection," Barczak said.
“Vaccination status matters a lot. So, if you are infected and then receive another booster after that infection, it is quite protective,” the professor added.
All in all, he added that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommendation regarding boosters is “consistent with what we know about eliciting truly protective responses” and that maximum performance will be obtained from the vaccines. if you wait at least three months after your previous infection to receive a booster.”
An individual’s overall immune status is another significant risk factor. People who are immunocompromised or undergoing immunosuppressive treatments are at especially high risk of reinfection.
Barczak noted that in addition to so-called “host factors” that affect risk, viral factors also matter. The most important is the match between the variant that caused an initial infection and the circulating variants.
“For people who have a normal immune system, they are much less likely to be reinfected by the same variant than by a new one that can evade detection by their previous antibodies,” he explained.
In order to protect themselves and others at higher risk, such as older family members, the professor explained that people should:
• Get a booster with the bivalent vaccine (a minimum of three months after a previous infection).
• Use a mask in high-risk environments.
• Consider using rapid antigen testing before attending events or gatherings to reduce the chance of infecting other vulnerable people.
“I think for many of us during the holidays, when we may be with elderly relatives, or in times when we are in particularly high-risk environments, we know that wearing masks is really important. And it is a relatively easy intervention,” she concluded.
