RELATED: What you need to know about COVID-19 booster shots
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 21) — The antibodies achieved after a coronavirus infection may not be enough to protect a person from COVID-19, an infectious diseases expert said on Friday.
Dr. Rontgene Solante said patients should get their COVID-19 vaccine or booster shot as soon as they fully recover to significantly boost their immune response.
“When you have an infection, you develop your immunity,” he told CNN Philippines. “That’s what we call a natural immunity. But natural immunity may not be enough.”
“If you get the vaccine and at the same you had a previous infection, that’s a very good combination because you already have your immunity and you put in vaccine — that doubles or even triples the antibody response,” Solante explained.
The Department of Health said those who recently tested positive for COVID-19 can get vaccinated after completing their isolation period.
Their respiratory symptoms should also have significantly improved and they need to have a normal body temperature for 24 hours even if they don’t take medicine for fever, the DOH added.
