COVID-19 vaccines recommended, even for those who’ve already had COVID

As ADHS and our partners work to educate people about the importance of COVID-19 vaccination, we are often emphasizing that the vaccine is recommended for everyone 12 and older, including those who have had a previous COVID-19 infection.

A new CDC report published last week demonstrates the importance of getting your COVID-19 vaccine, even if you’ve already been infected with COVID-19. The study found that those who were previously infected with COVID-19 and unvaccinated were five times more likely to be hospitalized with a COVID-like illness compared to those who were fully vaccinated and were never infected.

This week, CDC released a review of more than 90 reports and studies further demonstrating that vaccination is the best way to protect yourself against COVID-19, even for those who have already been infected. The data from this review show that vaccination can provide better immunity against COVID-19 than natural infection with the virus.

These new CDC resources are encouraging and reinforce our recommendation that everyone who is eligible to be vaccinated gets vaccinated as soon as possible. To find a vaccination site near you, visit azhealth.gov/findvaccine.

By Jessica Rigler|2021-11-02T08:09:52-07:00November 2nd, 2021|Preparedness|Comments Off

About the Author: Jessica Rigler

Jessica Rigler, an Arizona native, began her public health career more than 15 years ago, serving in varied roles with local, state, federal, and international public health agencies. Jessica has been with the Arizona Department of Health Services for over 12 years, supporting evaluation activities with the state immunization program, serving as the state’s first Healthcare Associated Infections Coordinator, and leading the Bureau of Epidemiology and Disease Control. She is currently an Assistant Director overseeing the Division of Public Health Preparedness at ADHS, which spans the areas of Epidemiology and Disease Control, Emergency Medical Services, Public Health Statistics, Public Health Emergency Preparedness and the Arizona State Public Health Laboratory. In recent years, Jessica has worked with the ADHS team to lead critical public health responses including opioids and COVID-19. Jessica holds Bachelor’s degrees in biochemistry and human development from the University of California, San Diego, and a Master’s degree in public health from Emory University. She is a Certified Health Education Specialist and certified in infection control.