Why have I been reinfected with Covid-19 despite being vaccinated?

The Omicron BA.5 viral subvariant is currently the dominant SARS-CoV-2 strain worldwide; however, it may soon be overtaken by other Omicron subvariants. — SAMUEL ONG/The Star

I just got my second bout of Covid-19. I actually had one Covid-19 infection back in January (2022), and now I have my second one. I also have had two Covid-19 vaccinations and one booster. Why am I still getting Covid-19 despite having so many vaccinations?

There are some vaccinations for certain diseases that will completely prevent you from getting the disease, such as smallpox and measles.

That is because those viruses don’t mutate a lot.

Then there are some vaccines that have to be adjusted frequently because the viruses they combat mutate a lot and frequently.

The influenza, or flu, virus is one of them.

The SARS-CoV-2 virus, which causes Covid-19. seems to be another, with frequently mutating subvariants that may outgrow the vaccines targeted at them.

The important thing to understand is that the aim of the Covid-19 vaccines is to reduce the severity of the infection should you get it.

They are generally very effective in preventing hospitalisation and death due to the infection, which is why the vast majority of vaccinated people who get Covid-19 experience none to moderate symptoms only.

And while some studies indicate that the vaccines also lessen the likelihood that you will contract the infection, it is not guaranteed.

Actually, I do have a friend who contracted Covid-19 last year (2021), back when the Delta viral variant was dominant. He was very ill and had to be hospitalised. He could not breathe properly and he described it as “hell” for a few days. However, he recovered. The same friend contracted Covid-19 again this year (2022). This time, he had been fully vaccinated and it was the Omicron viral variant. It was much milder, and he did not have to go to hospital. He mostly had a fever and sore throat. He certainly did not have breathing difficulties.

Vaccines do indeed help.

They won’t always keep you from getting Covid-19, but at least you are highly likely to only end up with a mild version comprising symptoms like sore throat, a stuffy nose and mild fever, rather than more severe symptoms that require a protracted hospital stay.

Do the current vaccines protect against all SARS-CoV-2 viral variants?

There is currently an updated bivalent vaccine from Moderna that has been shown to provide better protection against the new SARS-CoV-2 viral variants.

There will be another new updated vaccine from Pfizer/BioNTech, which will hopefully be out soon.

Malaysia has already ordered this vaccine, which may arrive by the end of this month and be available to Malaysians soon.

What is the dominant SARS-CoV-2 viral variant right now? I actually feel very stressed out thinking about all these new mutations and variants.

It is still the Omicron viral variant.

To be more specific, it seems to be Omicron BA.5 viral subvariant as of now.

But there has been a new Omicron subvariant detected in Malaysia and Singapore, i.e. Omicron XBB, which is driving an uptick in new cases.

The symptoms do not appear to be any more serious than with the other Omicron subvariants, however.

The Omicron variant was first identified in Botswana and South Africa.

However, it spread like wildfire and caused a worldwide increase in Covid-19 cases after it surfaced in the United States towards the end of 2021.

Since then, multiple Omicron subvariants have emerged around the world.

Currently, two subvariants, BQ.1 and BQ.1.1, are rapidly becoming the dominant SARS-CoV-2 viral strains in the US, overtaking BA.5.

The BQ strains are believed to be better than BA.5 at evading immunity from vaccinations or previous infections.

If I already had Covid-19 and I am reinfected with it, will there be long-term effects?

A study published recently in the journal Nature Medicine found that Covid-19 patients who had reinfections are more likely to be diagnosed with long Covid and health complications.

These complications can include death, heart problems and blood-clotting disorders, among others.

The researchers had analysed data from over five million patients in an electronic healthcare database.

They found that patients who were reinfected with Covid-19 experienced a two-time increase in the risk of death, long Covid and fatigue, and a three-time increase in the risk of hospitalisation, heart problems and blood clotting.

The study found an increased risk of complications across all such patients, regardless of vaccination status.

The risks of complications, such as that of lung, heart, blood, diabetes, gastrointestinal, kidney, mental health, musculoskeletal and neurological disorders, were most prevalent during the patients’ active infection, but they also lingered up to six months after infection.

Oh dear, this is my second Covid-19 infection. I am so scared!

Please do not be afraid.

Are you having any complications right now? Or is the infection mild?

If it is mild, then you are likely to recover fully.

Please note that this study suggests risks only, and it does not mean these complications will definitely happen to you.

This also happens with the flu and respiratory syncytial viruses, which can infect and reinfect you multiple times throughout your lifetime, especially if you do not go for an annual flu vaccination.

Respiratory viruses, researchers have found, seem to come with a risk of long-term effects.

Please also note that researchers suggest that reinfections tend to get less severe over time.

Infection, reinfection, vaccination and vaccine-boosting do indeed increase your immune system to become better able to respond to the newest subvariants of SARS-CoV-2 and the flu.

Dr YLM graduated as a medical doctor, and has been writing for many years on various subjects such as medicine, health, computers and entertainment. For further information, email [e-mail]. The information provided is for educational and communication purposes only, and it should not be construed as personal medical advice. Neither The Star nor the author gives any warranty on accuracy, completeness, functionality, usefulness or other assurances as to such information. The Star and the author disclaim all responsibility for any losses, damage to property or personal injury suffered directly or indirectly from reliance on such information.