Coronavirus: Do COVID survivors have stronger reactions to vaccines?

Getting the COVID-19 vaccine jab is a necessity right now amidst growing fears of mutant viruses, including for those who have recovered from the virus.

READ MORE: Why some people get side-effects, and some don't post vaccination

While advisories recommend people who have recently recovered from coronavirus wait for at least 90 days to get the jab, anecdotal evidence and case studies suggest that people who contract COVID-19 or have a history of infection tend to react differently with vaccines as well.

For example, the dreaded vaccine side-effects are said to be the more intense side for the ones who have had COVID-19. But why does this happen? We decode...

The way vaccines work is by teaching the immune system to recognize and respond to the pathogen, or a contagious infection, which is injected in a modified form through genetic instructions or proteins. The 'training', thus triggers our body to dole out some inflammatory reactions, which are otherwise known as side-effects. These reactions are usually triggered off by B-cells and immune T-cells in the body.

READ MORE: Why recovered COVID patients should defer vaccination

Now, the side-effects that we experience post administration of the vaccine tend to affect people differently, some in milder forms, while some feel a more intense response hitting them. This differs from the way our immune system reacts to the pathogen. The side-effects could also hit differently if let's say, the immune system already knows about the virus or has encountered it in some way, which is a reason why many think those who have recovered from COVID-19 tend to display a more robust response upon inoculation. This is the role played by memory-B cells in the system.

From the observations which have been seen, not only can the side-effects be on the harsher side for those who have recently recovered, they may also be more commonly felt in comparison to someone who may have not contracted COVID-19.

While side-effects tend to be usually on the milder side and resolve on their own, intense side-effects may take a long while to resolve and impact your routine. Recovered patients who have got the jab attest to the fact that side-effects, such as pain at the site of injection, headaches and malaise could last longer than expected too.

Should this be worrisome? Most experts say not.

One of the prime reasons why more robust (or intense) side-effects may be more common with COVID-19 recovered patients could also be because their immune system is already primed to respond to the virus, including the harmless fragments, which are also present in the vaccines.

A small number of studies and research conducted over the month have suggested that those who have recovered from COVID-19 may ideally benefit from just a single dose of the vaccine since their immune system well-recognizes the pathogen of concern. It is also believed that because of this high immune reaction, recovered people tend to showcase robust responses, producing more antibodies with the first dose(the same level as someone with no history of COVID-19 and getting two jabs does).

READ MORE: Why recovered COVID survivors need a single dose of the vaccine, explained

While follow-up studies will be needed to confirm the same, it is being speculated that the immune responses are sufficiently high, and well-maintained over time.

If such inferences are indeed found to have a scientific basis, the one-dose requirement may also benefit community-wide inoculation, deliver doses to those who may need it more, and most importantly bring us closer to achieving herd immunity.

It has also been seen that apart from suffering intense side-effects, the ones who have recently recovered from COVID-19 may also experience side-effects quicker.

On average, it is said that the inflammatory responses, with COVID-19 vaccines, can take upto 6-10 hours to build up. However, since recovered people have a primed immune response, the side-effects can set in quicker too. Do remember that all of these observations are based on anecdotal evidence, and may again, differ from person to person. For example, a person over the age of 55, or a man who has recovered from COVID-19 can experience it differently than a woman who is younger in age. Comorbidities and immuno-health are also factors to be taken into consideration.

Adverse reactions with the vaccines, even if on the rarer side can occur too. While the intensity of the side effects can differ from one person to another, what one needs to know is when to seek help.

If the intensity or the number of side-effects one has post getting the jab does not tend to resolve or get better after 5 days, it may need to be looked into. Adverse and serious reactions to the vaccines also tend to show up minutes following the jab, and can feel very overwhelming. Pressing, concerning symptoms include breathlessness, delirium, bruising, swelling, other skin reactions and even fainting in some cases.