The COVID-19 vaccination is also recommended for people who have been infected with this disease. Find out why COVID-19 survivors still need to get vaccinated and when is the recommended time for COVID-19 survivors to get vaccinated.
At the beginning of the vaccination program, COVID-19 survivors were not included in the vaccination target. The reason is, people who have been exposed to COVID-19 and recovered are considered to have antibodies to fight the Corona virus.
However, based on the results of various studies, the Ministry of Health stated that COVID-19 survivors also need to undergo vaccination.
Criteria for recovering from COVID-19
Before discussing further about vaccines for COVID-19 survivors, there are several criteria for recovering from COVID-19 that you need to know.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), a COVID-19 patient can be declared cured without the need for confirmation by a PCR test when he no longer shows symptoms of COVID-19.
However, to be more secure, the PCR test still needs to be used in certain cases. The following are the recovery criteria for positive COVID-19 patients in Indonesia:
- Asymptomatic patients: have passed a 10-day isolation period since being tested positive for the Corona virus
- Patients with mild to moderate symptoms: have been isolated for at least 10 days plus 3 days without symptoms
- Patients with severe symptoms: have passed the isolation period of at least 10 days plus 3 days without symptoms and 1 time negative result on PCR test
In addition, if the patient feels symptoms for more than 10 days, he or she must go through a period of isolation as long as the symptoms of COVID-19 are still present, plus 3 days without symptoms.
However, the patient's recovery must still be determined based on the assessment of the treating doctor. If the patient has been declared cured of COVID-19, he or she can return to interact with other people, but while still implementing health protocols.
Reasons why COVID-19 survivors need to be vaccinated
Basically, the human immune system is able to "remember" any viruses, bacteria, or parasites that have ever entered the body. Thus, the body will react more quickly to fight the same attack in the future so that infection does not occur.
This also applies to people who have recovered from COVID-19. After recovering, they have natural antibodies that are able to recognize and fight the Corona virus. However, it is not known for sure how long these natural antibodies can protect the body from the Corona virus.
There has been a study showing that antibodies to COVID-19 survivors can persist for 6–8 months after recovery. However, this still needs to be investigated further.
In addition, there is still the possibility that someone will be infected with the Corona virus again even though they have previously recovered from COVID-19.
That is the reason why COVID-19 survivors still need to get vaccinated. With vaccination, the immune system will be stronger and the risk of getting infected with the Corona virus again will be smaller.
The Right Vaccination Time for COVID-19 Survivors
Referring to the Circular of the Ministry of Health Number HK.02.02/II/2529/2021 and the recommendations of the Indonesian Association of Internal Medicine Specialists (PAPDI), COVID-19 survivors with mild to moderate severity can undergo vaccination 1 month after being declared cured.
As for survivors with severe severity, the vaccine will be given at least 3 months after being declared cured.
The same regulations also apply to people who are infected with the Corona virus after receiving the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. They will get a second dose of vaccine 3 months after recovering from COVID-19.
The delay in giving the COVID-19 vaccine is considered the best time to optimize the formation of antibodies in the body. Thus, the immune system will be stronger to fight the Corona virus.
However, keep in mind that receiving the vaccine does not mean you are completely protected from the Corona virus. You still need to apply health protocols by diligently washing your hands, always wearing a mask when outside the house, keeping your distance from other people, and avoiding crowds.
If you have been exposed to COVID-19 or have recently recovered from COVID-19 and want to get a vaccine, do not hesitate to consult a doctor. You can also directly contact the local health office, the nearest health facility from home, or hotline COVID-19 vaccination at number 119 ext. 9.
