Already had COVID — do you still need the vaccine?
AI-translated from the Chinese original · editorially reviewed
I've already had COVID-19, so I don't need the COVID-19 vaccine anymore
You have surely heard a friend say this — or thought it yourself. So what do the experts actually say? Let our Insights team walk you through it.
The US CDC still recommends vaccination
Even if you have previously had COVID-19, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) still recommends getting the COVID-19 vaccine after recovery to strengthen protection.
Immunity fades over time
The risk of catching COVID-19 again is real. As time passes, the body's immune response to a previous infection gradually weakens, meaning the antibodies produced after recovering from COVID-19 cannot prevent reinfection over the long term.
A booster lowers the risk of reinfection
This is especially true for the XBB variant currently circulating in Taiwan, which, according to the World Health Organization, can evade the immunity generated by existing vaccines and prior infection.
A booster lowers the risk of infection
According to data from the third quarter of 2023, the number of severe cases caused by COVID-19 in Taiwan is still 10-15 times that of influenza.
Everyone is advised to get vaccinated this winter
Especially older adults, people with chronic conditions, and those in frequent contact with high-risk groups — get the publicly funded XBB COVID-19 vaccine as soon as possible.
See the CDC's list of walk-in COVID-19 vaccination sites:
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