In this Fast Fact, Joe Gastaldo, MD System Medical Director for Infectious Diseases explains when boosters are needed after a breakthrough infection.
Since recording this Fast Fact, third doses are now available for all three COVID-19 vaccines.
Recently, the CDC discussed what happens to the body immunologically after someone has a post vaccination infection. In that scenario, having an infection acts as a booster dose, with more simulation of your memory cells and a topping off of antibody titers.
For those who have had post vaccination COVID, there is less of an urgency to get a booster dose. After a post vaccination case, Dr. Gastaldo recommends you could wait up to five or six months before receiving a booster because antibody titers increased with the post vaccination infection.
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