Is it dangerous to get vaccinated against COVID-19 when you may already have the infection?

It is generally safe to get vaccinated against COVID-19, even if you are infected with the virus without knowing it at the time of vaccination. Here are some important points to consider.

There is no evidence that receiving a COVID-19 vaccine while already infected leads to serious side effects. Most side effects of the vaccines are mild and temporary, such as pain at the injection site, fatigue, headache and low-grade fever.

If you have symptoms of an active COVID-19 infection, it is recommended that you postpone vaccination until you have recovered. This is so as not to confuse the symptoms of the infection with possible side effects of the vaccine and to avoid spreading the virus to others at the vaccination center.

People who have already had a COVID-19 infection may have a strong immunological response to the vaccine. This may lead to more noticeable side effects, but these are usually not serious and will go away on their own.

In general, if you are asymptomatic and do not know you are infected, it is safe to get the vaccine. However, if you have symptoms or know you have recently been exposed to someone with COVID-19, it is wise to wait until you have fully recovered and the isolation period has passed before getting vaccinated.

Source: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/coronavirus/in-depth/coronavirus-vaccine/art-20484859

Source: https://www.who.int/news-room/questions-and-answers/item/coronavirus-disease-(covid-19)-vaccines

Author: Prof. Dr. Dirk Devroey - Latest update: 2022-12-01 - Copyright: Clinifacts 2024