All persons with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection are recommended to receive Covid-19 vaccination starting at four weeks (minimal interval) and within three months of infection with a single dose of vaccine, or as soon as possible if infection was detected more than 3 months ago.
The interval for Non-Special Risk Individuals has been reduced from 6 to 3 months in light of the current epidemiologic situation, as post-infection vaccination may increase protection against infection with new variants (such as Delta). How long infection protects against reinfection with new SARS-CoV-2 variants such as Delta is not known. Reinfections have been observed more frequently within 6 months of infection in those most at risk [4]. Immunologic data suggest that vaccination induces higher neutralizing antibody titers than infection, so convalescents should receive better protection from infection with new variants with the additional vaccination [5–7]. Therefore, vaccination is recommended promptly after one month (minimum interval 4 weeks, see below) and within 3 months after infection or as soon as possible if the infection was detected more than 3 months ago. These intervals are recommended based on current evidence on the duration of protection after SARS-CoV-2 infection and will be reevaluated and adjusted, if necessary, as more data become available.
Literature:
- Dan JM, et al: Science 2021; 371(6529): eabf4063. 10.1126/science.abf4063.
- Lumley SF, et al: The New England Journal of Medicine 2021; 384(6): 533-540.
- Hall VJ, et al: Lancet (London, England) 2021; 397(10283): 1459-1469.
- Hansen CH, et al: Lancet (London, England) 2021; 397(10280): 1204-1212.
- Krammer F, et al: The New England Journal of Medicine 2021; 384(14): 1372-1374.
- Stamatatos L, et al: Science 2021:eabg9175. 10.1126/science.abg9175.
- Anichini G, et al. The New England Journal of Medicine 2021. 10.1056/NEJMc2103825.
- Swiss National Covid-19 Science Taskforce, 8/26/21, https://sciencetaskforce.ch, (last accessed 09/05/21).
HAUSARZT PRAXIS 2021; 16(9): 18 (published 9/19-21, ahead of print).
