People who received double vaccination are 47 per cent less likely to have long Covid should they contract a Covid-19 infection, researchers have reported.
UK health officials have reminded people to ensure they get double vaccinated against Covid-19.
Researchers at King's College London analysed data from participants logging their symptoms, tests, and vaccines on an app between December 2020 and July 2021, with the sample including over 1.2 million first dose and 970,000 second dose vaccinated adults.
Accordingly, they reported that people who received double vaccination were 47 per cent less likely to have long Covid should they contract a Covid-19 infection.
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In addition, the team found that there were fewer hospitalisations and a lower burden of acute symptoms among those fully vaccinated. The nature of the most common symptoms was similar to unvaccinated adults, such as loss of smell, cough, fever, headaches, and fatigue. All these symptoms were milder and less frequently reported by people who were vaccinated, and they were half as likely to get multiple symptoms in the first week of illness.
However, people living in the most deprived areas were at greater risk of infection after a single vaccination.
"In terms of the burden of long Covid, it's good news that our research has found that having a double vaccination significantly reduces the risk of both catching the virus and if you do, developing long-standing symptoms," lead researcher Dr Claire Steves said. "However, among our frail, older adults and those living in deprived areas the risk is still significant and they should be urgently prioritised for second and booster vaccinations."
Full study results have been published in ‘The Lancet Infectious Diseases’.
(Cover Media/Reuters)