Anti-Covid vaccine, Aifa: "Not indicated to administer the second dose if there is infection after the first"

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January 22, 2021

In the case of SARS-CoV-2 infection after the first dose of the vaccine, the infection itself represents a powerful stimulus to the immune system that is added to that provided by the first dose of the vaccine.

In light of this and the fact that natural infection confers a specific immune response to the virus, it is not appropriate to give these people the second vaccine dose.

This is the indication of the Italian Medicines Agency (Aifa) in a new Faq published on the site.

In the majority of the population, explains Aifa, "the first dose of vaccine evokes an initial immune response that confers only partial protection. This begins, depending on the type of vaccine, about 2-3 weeks after the first dose, maintaining therefore the risk of COVID-19 is still substantial, albeit reduced. The second dose of vaccine is therefore necessary to increase the immune response and obtain optimal vaccine protection ".

However, in the case of SARS-CoV-2 infection after the first dose of vaccine, "it is not recommended to give these people the second vaccine dose".

Partial vaccination and subsequent infection, AIFA specifies, "do not preclude a possible recall of COVID-19 vaccination in the future, if the data on the duration of immune protection indicate this need".