Katrine Jakobsen works daily as an anesthetist at Akershus University Hospital. In addition, she has worked for both aid organizations and the Armed Forces in war-torn areas.
In February, she received the second dose of vaccine, and was thus fully vaccinated. Still, she envisioned becoming infected when she went to Iraq and Syria around Easter to help with relief efforts. The countries have been hit hard by the pandemic.
– Around Easter, Jakobsen worked in Syria and Iraq for an aid organization that distributed medical equipment. Photo: Private
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– I actually expected to be infected even though I was vaccinated. So I was almost a little surprised that I was not infected during the trip, although of course we took all infection control considerations, says Jakobsen, and adds that they used face masks almost all the time while they were in the area.
Jakobsen got symptoms of coronary heart disease after she had returned to Norway and was in the entry quarantine.
– I had a negative test on the way home and a negative quick test at Gardermoen. But the day after I got home, I got a little sore throat. Then I took a new test, and it turned out positive, says Jakobsen.
Does not provide full immunity
More than 1.5 million Norwegians have been fully vaccinated. Among these, 560 people have been registered who have been diagnosed with covid-19, according to the National Institute of Public Health (NIPH)’s latest weekly report.
Both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines provide about 95 percent protection against coronary heart disease. Thus, you do not become immune to the virus, even if two doses provide good protection and few become infected after the vaccination, says department director at FHI, Line Vold.
– The vaccines do not provide 100 percent protection, so some will be infected even if they have been vaccinated. But what is important is that the vaccines protect very well against serious illness, so the risk of becoming seriously ill is very small if you have been vaccinated, says Vold.
Mild disease course
– Jakobsen has been to war-torn areas several times to contribute to relief work. Photo: Private
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Jakobsen’s course of the disease was mild, and she has not experienced any after-effects of the virus. The symptoms resembled a severe cold, with a sore throat and runny nose.
– I did not have a fever and muscle aches and also felt no effect on the lungs, so I really felt in perfectly good shape, she says.
She encourages other fully vaccinated people to keep in mind the infection control rules, even if they are protected against the virus.
– There are simple infection control routines such as keeping a distance from people and having good hand hygiene. And that you try to think about infection control in everyday life, and do not give up completely because you have been vaccinated. Because we are not rid of the virus yet, says Jakobsen.
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