Despite of slowdown in the arrival of vaccines, the immunization campaign continues its course and the Government is confident of meeting its objective of achieving the long-awaited herd immunity before the end of August. According to the latest official data provided by the Ministry of Health, almost 30 million Spaniards have received at least one dose, while practically 50% of the Spanish population already has the full regimen.
The last group to join the vaccination campaign is that of the young people from 16 to 29 years old and it is precisely in this strip -even from the age of 12- that more infections are being registered in recent weeks. As it is, there are many doubts that arise: What happens if I get infected between the first and second doses of the vaccine? Do I have to postpone my appointment? Will I suffer more adverse effects if I get vaccinated while infected?
As explained to Digital Freedom Jaime Jesús Pérez, member of the Spanish Association of Vaccination (AEV), “the first dose begins to protect us at approximately 10 or 12 days, 15 at the most.” However, this is minimal protection. Not surprisingly, the doctor warns that, taking into account that “Even with two doses we are not 100% protected, with one dose, logically, the vaccine is less effective“.
When to take the second dose
Thus, if we are infected before completing the vaccination schedule, it is the proper Ministry of Health the one that clarifies how to proceed in the first place. The protocol does not contemplate the vaccine Janssen, since, being a single-dose antidote, it would not pose any problem. For people who have received the vaccine Pfizer (Comirnaty), Modern (Spikevax) o AstraZeneca (Vaxzevria), the indication is as follows:
- If the person becomes infected between the first and second doses and has over 65 years, you will have to wait to recover from the illness and finish the isolation period to receive the second prick.
- If the person is under 65 and becomes infected after receiving the first dose, you should wait six months to complete your vaccination schedule.
Will I have more adverse reactions?
Beyond whether or not the vaccination schedule has to be completed, there are many who wonder what can happen to them in case of go to get the second dose without knowing that they have been infected, something that would not be unreasonable if we take into account that a large part of the new infections occur precisely among young people and, therefore, generally asymptomatic.
“In principle, reassure the population that, to begin with, the frame may be lighter precisely because we already have some protection“, assures Jaime Jesús Pérez. In addition, the secondary effects do not have to be more serious than usual.
“It produces a little more adverse reactions, but, in any case, they are always the usual adverse reactions. Nothing serious has been described,” says the doctor. Thus, it warns that we are likely to have a little more fever than usual, but, in any case, “nothing special that should alarm us”.
The doubts arise precisely because of the recommendation of Health to vaccinate only with one dose those who have already passed the coronavirus. Along these lines, the member of the AEV insists that if this decision has been made, it is not because the fact that putting both of them could entail some danger, but because “releasing doses for other people who really do need them” , since “there are already studies that support that the person who has already passed the disease may have very long-term and even lifelong immunity“.
“Hold on a little longer”
Be that as it may, from the Spanish Association of Vaccination they appeal to the entire population and, in particular, to young people: “It is a very difficult situation in which we have all had to leave behind many things in our lives, but they We would ask you to hold out a little longer. We are in the final vaccination process and, in two or three months, the vast majority will be able to be vaccinated“.
In addition, the doctor insists on a reality that many forget. “Although the disease is actually less serious in young people, there are also young people who enter, too there are young people who are admitted to the ICU and, in addition, there are also young people, many unfortunately, who have this persistent covid phenomenon, which can have consequences in their daily life in the medium term, and that is no nonsense, “he warns.
The persistent covid
This last syndrome currently affects between 10% and 20% of those infected. The Germans Trias i Pujol Hospital, Badalona, has been the first to create in Spain a unit specialized in pediatric persistent covidprecisely because of the growing impact they observed among minors.
The head of this service, María Méndez, explained to LD just a few days ago, they currently cared for more than 100 children with an average age of 14 years. The most common symptoms include fatigue, headaches, abdominal pain, impaired memory and concentration, rapid heartbeat, dizziness or even skin changes and skin changes. “Sometimes the fatigue is so intense that cannot go to school or have to give up all extracurricular activities and they spend a large part of the day lying in bed, “the doctor warned.
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