A dose of corona vaccine gives those who have been ill as good protection against the disease as others receive after two doses, according to the region.
KI researcher Ali Mirazimi says that the strategy should work in theory, but that only a couple of smaller studies have been done so far.
- It is a method and theoretically it should work, but if it is a good strategy, we do not know yet.
This is the dilemma when you have few doses that should be enough for many.
There has been some research that shows that those who have been ill and had antibodies and then received a dose of vaccine receive high amounts of antibodies to covid, as you get if you receive after two doses of vaccine.
"You have to be safe"
The first dose of vaccine awakens the immune system, the second dose strengthens it.
If you have undergone a covid infection, you have already awakened your immune system, Mirazimi explains.
- But you have to know for sure that you have had covid-19 and received antibodies.
It is precisely the practical pieces that can be the challenge here, it is not enough that someone thinks they have been ill or that a t-cell test has been done - those tests are uncertain.
The PCR tests are very good but they can also give false positive results.
"Probably has strong protection"
The Uppsala region will not test for antibodies but will only use positive PCR tests.
- Those who have been seriously ill most likely have strong protection for over twelve months.
Even those who have been mildly ill have antibodies for up to nine months.
If you have done a PCR test and been positive, you should theoretically have antibodies, but it would have been even safer if you also tested for antibodies.
People who have lowered their immune systems are not covered by the new vaccine rules, the region states in a press release.