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Aug 16, 2022 · You can get COVID-19 more than once. Many times, in fact. “The thing to remember is that viruses are very smart,” says critical care physician Abhijit Duggal, MD. “The COVID-19 virus ...
- Overview
- COVID-19 Testing for People with a Recent History of Infection
- Protecting Yourself and Others – What You Can Do
- What CDC is doing
Updated Mar. 15, 2023
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Reinfection with the virus that causes COVID-19 occurs when you are infected, recover, and then get infected again. You can be reinfected multiple times.
Reinfections are most often mild, but severe illness can occur. If you are reinfected, you can also spread the virus to others. Staying up to date with COVID-19 vaccine and treating COVID-19 illness within a few days of when symptoms start decreases your risk of experiencing severe illness.
Once you have had COVID-19, your immune system responds in several ways. This immune response can protect you against reinfection for several months, but this protection decreases over time. People with weakened immune systems who get an infection may have a limited immune response or none at all. Protection against severe COVID-19 illness generally lasts longer than protection against infection. This means even if you get infected again, your immune response should help protect you from severe illness and hospitalization.
As the virus evolves, new variants with the ability to evade your existing immunity can appear. This can increase your risk of reinfection. Reinfection can occur as early as several weeks after a previous infection, although this is rare.
Interpreting test results in the first 90 days after a previous infection (that is, reinfection) can be challenging. CDC has developed testing guidance explaining which type of test you should take under different circumstances.
If you have tested positive for COVID-19 within the past 90 days and are testing for a possible new infection:
•Use an antigen test.
•Consult a healthcare provider if you have any questions or concerns.
If you were exposed to the virus that causes COVID-19, you should follow exposure guidance, regardless of your vaccination status or if you have had a previous infection. For those who have previously been infected, vaccination offers added protection, especially against reinfection leading to hospitalization. CDC recommends that people ages 6 months and older, including those with previous infections, stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccines.
Regardless of your vaccination status or if you have had a previous infection:
•COVID-19 treatments are available for those eligible.
•You should start treatment as soon as possible, especially if you have COVID-19 symptoms or risk factors that make you more likely to get very sick from COVID-19.
We continue to learn more about reinfections, especially as new SARS-CoV-2 variants emerge. CDC is working with partners and using data to better understand reinfections, including:
•Who is at higher risk of reinfection, especially reinfections that lead to hospitalization
•How soon reinfections occur after a previous infection
•How severe reinfections are compared to initial infections
May 16, 2022 · A virus that shows no signs of disappearing, variants that are adept at dodging the body’s defenses, and waves of infections two, maybe three times a year — this may be the future of Covid-19,...
- Apoorva Mandavilli
Jan 26, 2023 · While not likely, it’s possible to get COVID-19 twice within a 90-day period. According to the CDC, early reinfection within the first 90 days of initial infection is possible, though most ...
Jun 23, 2022 · Coronavirus News. How Many Times Can I Get Reinfected With COVID-19? By Alyssa Hui. Published on June 23, 2022. Fact checked by Heather Mercer. Aleksei Morozov/Getty. Key Takeaways. If you were infected with COVID-19 once, it’s possible to get reinfected with new and emerging variants of the virus.
Aug 17, 2023 · Matt Chase. By Dani Blum. Aug. 17, 2023. Leer en español. Doctors and scientists who study Covid-19 agree that for most people, getting infected for a second — or third or fourth — time is...
May 14, 2024 · You are up to date when you get 1 age-appropriate updated COVID-19 vaccine.‡ Children aged 6 months – 4 years. You are up to date when you get all recommended doses, including at least 1 dose of updated COVID-19 vaccine. People aged 65 years and older. You are up to date when you have received 2 updated 2023–2024 COVID-19 vaccine doses.
