With more and more vaccines being rolled out everyday in the United States, the question of how long COVID-19 vaccine-induced immunity lasts has popped up more than a few times at our Crimson Care clinics in Tuscaloosa.
And it’s a good question, too, as long-lasting immunity against the 2019 novel coronavirus would be ideal for continual protection and for getting back to normal life.
But what does the science say? Dr. Peramsetty dug into the research and is sharing his findings on the COVID-19 vaccine and vaccine-induced immunity below to help you better understand what this means for your health.
Dr. Peramsetty Answers Top COVID-19 Vaccine Questions
In the sections below, Dr. Peramsetty is not only answering his patients’ top question regarding how long COVID-19 vaccine-induced immunity lasts (rather than immunity after having COVID-19), but also when the COVID-19 vaccine starts working and whether or not the vaccine is effective at protecting against vaccine variants.
When does the COVID-19 vaccine start working?
This is a big question patients have asked Dr. Peramsetty when receiving their COVID-19 vaccination. According to the CDC, it takes a couple weeks to attain full immunity and protection after receiving the 2nd dose of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccine, or the single dose of Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen vaccine.
However, good protection is achieved two weeks after receiving the first dose of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccine. According to an FDA briefing document, the Moderna vaccine provides an overall efficacy rate of 50.8% between days one to fourteen and an efficacy rate of 92.1% after 14 days for one dose.
For Pfizer, a CDC report found that its mRNA COVID-19 vaccine was partially effective (80%) at least 14 days after the first dose and 90% effective at preventing infection at least 14 days after the second dose.
With that information in mind, it begs the next question -- how long does vaccine-induced immunity last? And will regular booster shots be required for long-lasting protection? Dr. Peramsetty weighs in below.
How long does COVID-19 vaccine-induced immunity last?
This is the big question on everyone’s mind -- scientists, health professionals, and patients alike. Though the COVID-19 vaccine is new and researchers don’t know exactly how long immunity lasts, studies have shown that immunity lasts for a minimum of 6 months.
But that doesn’t simply mean you become vulnerable to COVID-19 after 90 days -- that’s just how long researchers studied participants.
Although researchers are still testing vaccine immunity, many believe the new COVID-19 vaccine will provide protection upwards of 2 to 3 years -- but this will only be uncovered after sufficient research and testing.
If all goes well and the current vaccines provide protection for years to come, the next question is -- do they still protect against virus variants? Dr. Peramsetty discusses below.
Do vaccines protect against COVID-19 variants?
Unfortunately, there’s not enough research to confidently answer this important question. There’s absolutely a chance of a new variant popping up that may have the ability to evade the vaccine-induced antibodies, but scientists just aren’t sure of that yet due to limited research.
However, many scientists are optimistic that the original and mutant COVID-19 strains are similar enough that the vaccines should immunize against both.
COVID-19 Testing, Antibody Treatment & Vaccine at Crimson Care in Tuscaloosa, AL
Are you in need of COVID-19 services, such as testing, antibody treatment, or vaccination? Dr. Peramsetty and his experienced team offer all of these and more at Crimson Care in Tuscaloosa!
Use our online scheduling portal to book your appointment today! We’re currently offering the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine to anyone 18 and older at our Crimson Care and First Care clinics.