Campus Life

Can I get reinfected if I've already had COVID-19?

Can I get reinfected if I've already had COVID-19?

Yes. New research by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has found that unvaccinated adults who were previously infected with COVID-19 were twice as likely to be reinfected as vaccinated adults who were previously infected.

“If you are forgoing vaccination because you have already had COVID-19, you are putting yourself and others at risk of contracting the more transmissive and potentially more dangerous Delta variant,” said Matthew Ferrari, director of the Center for Infectious Disease Dynamics at Penn State.

Ferrari explained that the research team, which examined 246 case patients and 492 control patients, found that antibodies generated by the COVID-19 vaccines provide better neutralization of some circulating virus variants than natural infection.

According to Ferrari, the study found that the type of vaccine — the one-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine or the two-dose Pfizer and Moderna vaccines — did not affect vaccinated individuals’ likelihood of being reinfected, nor did partial vaccination of the two-dose vaccines. Being vaccinated, even partially, reduced the risk of reinfection two-fold.

“Millions of people, including children and immunocompromised individuals, remain unable to get the COVID-19 vaccine,” said Ferrari. “You can help to protect these friends, family members and community members by getting the vaccine even if you’ve already been infected with COVID-19.”

You can help by getting the vaccine and encouraging everyone ages 12 and older to do so, as well. Penn State students, faculty and staff are strongly encouraged to get the COVID-19 vaccine and should share with the University that they have been vaccinated as soon as possible. With this information, University officials will be able to better assess vaccination rates across Penn State and plan for the fall activities that we all love. The latest vaccination information is available on Penn State’s virus information website.

Last Updated August 19, 2021