Can a person become infected with coronavirus after vaccination?
Most experts agree that the vaccine does not provide 100% protection against infection.
If a large dose of the pathogen enters the body of a vaccinated person, this can cause a so-called immune breakthrough. “A person who has been vaccinated may think that they can no longer be infectious and cannot become infected themselves. But this is not true. After vaccination, there is still a small risk of infection, although if it occurs, the disease will not be severe,” explained infectious disease specialist and vaccinologist Evgeniy Timakov. The company that developed the EpiVacCorona vaccine warned that a person with developed immunity in contact with a coronavirus patient may become ill within a month after vaccination, but in this case the virus will not cause complications or death. Deputy Prime Minister Tatyana Golikova stated that the immune response to the vaccine against coronavirus infection is formed within 42 days after the first injection. Therefore, all this time it is important to follow preventive measures in order not to become infected with COVID-19: refrain from visiting crowded places, observe the mask regime and hygiene rules, minimize contacts, maintain social distance, limit the intake of alcohol and medications that suppress the immune system.
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Today, Russians can be vaccinated with two domestic vaccines - Gam-Covid-Vac (Sputnik V). The third vaccine, CoviVac, developed by the Chumakov Center, is in the final stage of testing and will go into public circulation by the end of March.
- "EpiVacCorona": effectiveness is 100%; immune protection is expected to last for at least a year.
- "Gam-Covid-Vac": effectiveness is 91.4%, against severe disease - 100%; immune protection is expected to last for two years (nine months has already been proven).
- "CoviVac": effectiveness is 85%; The duration of immunity will be announced after the completion of clinical trials.
INTERVENTION WITH DNA USING VACCINES IS IMPOSSIBLE
— Could you tell us about the features of the work of anti-Covid vaccines? There are a lot of horror stories floating around on the Internet and social networks, and some people trust them...
— The CoviVac vaccine (developed by the Chumakov Center) uses the whole virus. But he is inactivated (killed). People have been vaccinated with such whole-virion vaccines for a long time, this is nothing new. For example, rabies vaccines are of this type. That is, we have learned to use such vaccinations to kill a much more dangerous virus than SARS-CoV-2 (rabies is an incurable disease - Ed.). Whole-virion vaccines are harmless and you cannot get Covid from them.
As for Sputnik V, this vaccine is created on the basis of a genetic construct that does not contain the so-called messenger RNA. Currently, the domestic vaccine based on messenger RNA is still being developed and has not been put into circulation. But in any case, RNA vaccines are not able to integrate into human DNA due to the fact that this is simply impossible from the point of view of molecular biology. In a word, neither Sputnik nor future RNA vaccines are capable of somehow changing the human genetic code.
Is a person contagious after vaccination?
According to the chief freelance therapist of the Ministry of Health, corresponding member of the Russian Academy of Sciences Oksana Drapkina, during vaccination a person cannot infect others. However, according to Timakov, there is a small risk of infection, but it is not associated with the coronavirus vaccine. The doctor explains this by the fact that when vaccinated against COVID-19, people do not develop local immunity of the mucous membranes. This means that once SARS-CoV-2 gets on, for example, the nasal mucosa, it can multiply and can be transmitted to other people by sneezing. “Vaccination prevents the virus from entering the body so that the infection does not reach the organ that it can infect. Vaccination will most likely not increase the local immunity of the mucous membranes, so the coronavirus will be able to catch on and begin to multiply in the nasopharynx. Thus, the person will become a source of infection,” the expert explained.
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Allergist-immunologist Vladimir Bolibok shares a similar opinion. In his opinion, those who have been vaccinated may not get sick with COVID-19 themselves, but they can infect others with the coronavirus. “Vaccination protects against infection - that is, if the virus gets into the nose, the person will not get sick, but he will be a virus carrier,” he said.
Health Minister Mikhail Murashko explained the importance of wearing masks, including to those who have been vaccinated: “Vaccination reliably protects against severe illness and, in the vast majority of cases, against the disease, but a vaccinated person can nevertheless transmit the infection to those who are not protected ", said Murashko.
IS IT POSSIBLE TO GET AN INFECTION AFTER VACCINATION?
— Alexander Vladimirovich, can a vaccinated person still get sick with Covid and how often does this happen?
— After being vaccinated against coronavirus (not because of it! but with subsequent infection with the virus. — Ed.) you can get sick, such cases have been described. They are extremely rare. At the same time, people who get sick after vaccination tolerate the infection easily and do not have complications. And the most important thing is that, unlike unvaccinated people who get sick, vaccinated people do not die from Covid.
— Is the rule that vaccinated people continue to wear a mask justified in your opinion or is it too much?
- This is an absolutely justified demand. People who have been vaccinated should still wear a mask in public. Because if, for example, you kissed a person infected with coronavirus, then for some time you will release the covid pathogen into the environment. Yes, you yourself most likely will not get sick, but you can infect others. We need to think not only about ourselves, but also about those around us.
What not to do immediately after vaccination
You cannot hide from doctors the presence of any symptoms after vaccination. Allergic reactions, high fever, severe headaches or muscle pain, shortness of breath, cough, runny nose, sore throat, especially if these reactions last for more than three to five days, are a reason to see a doctor, warns vaccinologist Evgeny Timakov. This may no longer be a reaction to the vaccine, but signs of the disease.
After vaccination with Sputnik V, the Ministry of Health recommends not getting the injection site wet for three days, not visiting the sauna or bathhouse, not drinking alcohol and avoiding excessive physical activity. In turn, Rospotrebnadzor after vaccination recommended not to overcool, not overheat and avoid stress to the body, as well as avoid foods that can provoke an allergic reaction.
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How to help your immune system after vaccination
The chief freelance nutritionist of the Russian Ministry of Health, Viktor Tutelyan, recommends that everyone who has been vaccinated against coronavirus “pay attention to vitamins, primarily vitamin D,” and, if necessary, eliminate its deficiency. You also need to consume foods high in protein. “Why a vaccine is administered is to stimulate the production of specific antibodies, and antibodies are protein structures. For this, there is a great need for protein. What is this - meat, fish, eggs. We need to make sure that this is included in the diet,” Tutelyan explained.
Should those who have already had the disease be vaccinated?
Those who have recovered from COVID-19 and have IgG antibodies, which are responsible for stable immunity to infection, do not need vaccination, says Oksana Drapkina. “Patients who have had the disease and have immunoglobulin G antibodies are not currently vaccinated,” she said.
Before vaccination, it is advisable to get tested for antibodies. If the IgG level is above 10, then immunity has already formed and vaccination is not necessary.
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According to the head of the department of general virology of the Federal Scientific Center for Research and Development of Immunobiological Preparations named after. M.P. Chumakov RAS, Professor Georgy Ignatiev, the presence of antibodies to coronavirus in the blood is a contraindication for participation in vaccine trials. In other words, if a person has recently had COVID-19, he cannot be vaccinated. “Since the current criteria for medical eligibility for participation in clinical trials is a previous infection, it turns out that people who have had COVID-19 do not need to be vaccinated. But how long does post-infectious immunity last? The level of antibodies is constantly falling over time, and the antibodies should be expected to go away. And then the person will need to be vaccinated,” Ignatiev explained.
Why children are not vaccinated against COVID-19
There is no need to vaccinate children against coronavirus en masse, said the head of Rospotrebnadzor, Anna Popova. “We don’t vaccinate children yet, there is no need for mass immunization of children, children tolerate [the disease] very easily, immunity is developed quickly even in the absence of symptoms,” she explained.
Infectious disease doctor Evgeniy Timakov shares a similar opinion: “Children do not get sick so seriously and severely, so getting vaccinated is not a priority for them now.”
Recently, clinical trials of the Sputnik V vaccine in the form of nasal drops for young children - up to 3-4 years old - began in Russia. As the director of the center, Alexander Gintsburg, said, “this is, of course, a very gentle and convenient form of vaccination for children.” In addition, it is “completely devoid of any side effects.” The tests are planned to be completed this year, Gunzburg said. Adults can also use the spray vaccine, but this procedure will not replace traditional vaccination.
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When and who can get vaccinated?
Vaccination against coronavirus is allowed 30 days after any other vaccinations, according to the Moscow mayor’s website. However, it does not protect against the flu, so it is recommended to get both vaccinations. Coronavirus vaccination recommendations also state that the vaccine should not be given to those who have suffered acute coronary syndrome or stroke in the past year. Contraindications also include chronic systemic infections, tuberculosis, neoplasms, hepatitis B and C, syphilis, and HIV.
Those who do not have a high temperature (37 °C or more) will be able to get vaccinated. Before the procedure, the patient must be examined by a health care worker, who must be informed about existing chronic diseases, other vaccinations, and previous acute respiratory viral infections. Based on these data, the decision on vaccination will be made.
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“In addition, both women and men should not take part in the study if they plan to conceive a child in the next three months,” the mayor’s website states.
According to the chief freelance specialist in obstetrics and gynecology of the Russian Ministry of Health, Professor Leila Adamyan, it is better to start planning a pregnancy or undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) two to three months after vaccination against coronavirus. “Even a couple who does not want to have a child today, but has one in the project, must be vaccinated [against coronavirus], and in the near future - [in] two, maximum three months, can switch to IVF and planning pregnancy directly.” , said Adamyan.
The doctor assures that the risk of complications after vaccination is “a thousand times lower” than harm to the body from COVID-19, especially if it is severe. It is worth considering the influence of special medications that are used to treat the disease.
Is the coronavirus vaccine safe for older people?
According to the chief physician of the hospital in Kommunarka, Denis Protsenko, vaccination against coronavirus will help reduce mortality among elderly patients with confirmed COVID-19. The level of antibodies in older people after vaccination against coronavirus is usually lower than in young people, said Deputy Head of Rospotrebnadzor Tatyana Nepomnyashchikh. “If the antibody level is zero, something must have gone wrong. Maybe the person had health problems or was simply overworked at the time of vaccination. Or he has an acquired or permanent immunodeficiency. “In older people, the immune response takes longer to form than in young people, and their antibody levels tend to be lower,” she noted.
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Vaccination for elderly patients will be safe if the patients do not have exacerbations of chronic diseases, they have not had ARVI for two weeks before vaccination and have not received other vaccinations for 30 days, said Andrei Tyazhelnikov, chief freelance specialist in primary health care for adults. “I would like to say that the oldest Muscovite vaccinated against coronavirus is 104 years old <...> In total, more than 700,000 people in Moscow have been vaccinated against coronavirus, of which 50% are over 60 years old,” he noted. The expert recalls that citizens over 60 years of age are in the highest risk group and are more susceptible to coronavirus. “In fact, vaccination is the only way to protect older patients <...> We must intensify the vaccination process more than ever,” he added.
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Rospotrebnadzor decided to dispel myths around Covid vaccination
Rospotrebnadzor decided to answer the 7 most popular questions about vaccination. Experts are once again trying to dispel all fears associated with this procedure.
Which COVID-19 vaccine is best for me?
All vaccines registered in Russia are effective and safe. It is best to get vaccinated with the drug that is available. If you have a chronic illness or other health condition, consult your doctor about choosing a vaccine.
Do I need to get vaccinated if I have already had coronavirus?
Yes, you should get the vaccine even if you have previously had COVID-19. People who recover from COVID-19 develop natural immunity to the virus, but it is not yet known for sure how long it lasts and how well you are protected. Vaccines provide better protection. It is recommended to be vaccinated several months after the illness.
Can COVID-19 vaccines be incorporated into DNA?
No, none of the COVID-19 vaccines affect or interact with your DNA in any way. Vaccines introduce the body’s immune cells to fragments of the coronavirus’s genetic material, they remember them and begin to produce antibodies aimed at protecting against the virus.
Can COVID-19 vaccines negatively impact your ability to have children?
There is no evidence that any vaccine, including the coronavirus vaccine, can affect fertility in women or men. Russian coronavirus vaccines have passed the necessary tests to assess the effect on offspring, primarily on laboratory animals. No negative consequences were identified.
If you are currently trying to get pregnant, you do not need to avoid pregnancy after receiving the COVID-19 vaccine.
The virus is mutating. Will vaccines work against new variants?
Experts around the world are constantly studying how new variants affect the behavior of the virus, including any potential impact on the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines. So far, no significant changes in pathogens that can influence the course of the disease or the epidemic process have been identified.
If any of the vaccines are shown to be less effective against one or more of these variants, the vaccines could be reformulated to protect against them.
But at the same time, it is important to get vaccinated and continue measures to reduce the spread of the virus. All this helps reduce the likelihood of the virus mutating. It is important to maintain social distancing, wear masks, wash your hands, and seek medical attention promptly. Rospotrebnadzor is constantly monitoring the variability of the virus.
Can the COVID-19 vaccine cause a positive test result for the disease, such as a PCR test or an antigen test?
No, the COVID-19 vaccine cannot produce a positive result in a PCR test or a laboratory antigen test. This is because the test checks for active disease, not a person's immunity.
Can I get sick after vaccination?
After being vaccinated against coronavirus (not because of it, but during subsequent infection with the virus), you can get sick; such cases have been described. They are rare and mostly occur in people who have not completed the full course of vaccinations and have not followed recommended precautions. At the same time, people who get sick after vaccination tolerate the infection easily and do not have complications.
How often will you need to be vaccinated against COVID-19?
Georgy Ignatiev, head of the general virology department at the Chumakov Center, believes that vaccination against coronavirus will most likely have to be done annually. “According to studies, those who have recovered from coronavirus infection demonstrate a decrease in the level of specific antibodies, therefore, perhaps, as in the case of influenza, people will have to be vaccinated annually, including those who previously had COVID-19 with a critical decrease in the level of antibodies,” - he explained.
Deputy Prime Minister Tatyana Golikova said the same thing in an interview with TASS. According to her, the coronavirus is gradually turning into a seasonal virus, so it is highly likely that you will have to be vaccinated against the infection regularly. “Of course, when we take off our masks is connected with 60% of the vaccinated population, and with our citizens’ compliance with restrictive measures during this period, and with the fact that the coronavirus turns into a seasonal virus, which means, with a high degree of probability, that we We will be vaccinated regularly,” she said.
Golikova noted that neither the world nor Russia have yet accumulated sufficient experience in terms of understanding how long immune protection lasts. “Of course, now everyone is “relaxed” and believes that Covid is going away, the situation is better now, but while the virus is not going anywhere yet, we must take care of ourselves and our loved ones,” the Deputy Prime Minister emphasized.
WHY VACCINED PEOPLE HAVE MORE RELIABLE PROTECTION THAN THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN ILL?
— Our readers often ask: is immunity different after suffering from Covid and after vaccination against coronavirus?
— Naturally formed immunity (that is, after an illness. — Ed.), unfortunately, is no better than vaccine immunity. For one simple reason. The virus is changing, everyone has probably heard about the British, Indian, South African, and South American strains. They have a slightly different structure. And if a person has been ill, for example, with the classic Wuhan variant of the virus, then he can easily get sick again, becoming infected with the British or another strain. The vaccine is designed in such a way as to teach the immune system to hit the places common to all viruses. Therefore, in this case, vaccination, oddly enough, will create immunity that is more effective in terms of protection.
