How long does covid-19 vaccine immunity last? Will vaccination ensure that you won’t get infected in the future?

After a long wait, today’s world finally has some vaccines to combat, or at least reduce the load off, the COVID-19 pandemic. Though many people were initially skeptical and even scared to take the vaccine, it is now known that Pfizer and Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccines are particularly successful in reducing COVID-19 cases today. Evidence even shows they will continue to be effective over time.

What is unspecified, though, is how long the vaccinations will protect against COVID-19, whether booster shots will be needed in the future, and whether vaccines will continue to be modified to combat new virus variants.

How effective are the vaccines?

According to a study by The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the messenger RNA vaccines produced by Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna stopped 80 percent of cases and 90 percent after the first and second dose, respectively.

Researchers discovered that the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine was was95.3 percent effective against severe COVID-19 and 100% effective against serious disease, as defined by the  FDA (FDA) and the CDC, respectively. The vaccine’s effectiveness against one of the most common COVID-19 strains circulating in South Africa (known as B.1.351) was 100%.

How long does immunity last?

The current third-phase clinical trial of Pfizer-mRNA BioNTech’s vaccine reveals that vital immunization lasts at least six months in vaccinated people, according to the company. Studies show that even after six months, immunity doesn’t just disappear; it can last much longer.  The fact that the COVID-19 vaccine’s efficacy remained almost constant throughout the studies suggests the safety will be long-lasting.

According to the firms, a survey involving 12,000 vaccinated people found “no significant protection concerns” with the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.

Will vaccination ensure that you won’t get infected in the future?

Although vaccines do play a protective role against COVID-19, they don’t ensure complete protection. COVID-19 cases may still occur in vaccinated people, although the severity of the symptoms is lesser. This thus highlights the importance of wearing masks and maintaining social distancing, even in people who have been vaccinated. It is always best to be safe than sorry!

Last Updated on July 28, 2023 by john liam