Do people who have had COVID-19 and recovered need to get vaccinated?
If you have had COVID-19 you should wait to be vaccinated with your next COVID-19 vaccine 6 months after the confirmed infection.
This is to optimise your vaccine protection. A longer gap between infection and vaccination is likely to lead to a better immune response and result in longer protection from reinfection.
The next scheduled dose of COVID-19 vaccine should be given as soon as possible after 6 months.
If you have had COVID-19, you do not need to defer other vaccinations – for example, your flu vaccine. But you should not get any vaccine if you are acutely unwell (e.g., you have a fever).
Read more about vaccination after testing positive to COVID-19.
You should discuss any treatments you had with your doctor before you get vaccinated.
Read the latest advice from ATAGI on COVID-19 booster doses for early 2023.
With new COVID-19 vaccine developments every day, it’s normal to have questions or concerns, and possibly feel hesitant about getting a vaccine. That's why we're providing accurate, evidence-based answers to questions about COVID-19 vaccines.