Vaccination Reduces Risk of Long COVID by 49% 

September 8, 2021

According to a study published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases, those who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 are 49% less likely to develop Long Covid in the unlikely event they contract COVID-19.

Researchers at King’s College London analyzed self-reported data on the UK ZOE Covid app from approximately 1.2 million participants who received a first dose, and 970,000 participants who received a second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. Of these cohorts, 6,030 and 2,370 tested positive for COVID-19 at least 14 and 7 days after vaccination, respectively. Users reported a COVID-19 infection an average of 73 days after their first vaccination, and an average of 51 days after their second-vaccination. The most commonly reported co-morbidities were asthma and lung disease.

While almost halving the risk of Long Covid, researchers also found that there were 73% less hospitalizations and 31% less acute symptoms by those who were fully vaccinated versus those who were unvaccinated. Symptoms were milder and less frequently reported by vaccinated individuals, and most commonly included loss of smell, fatigue, headaches, cough and fever.

UK data indicates that mortality rates across all ages parallel that of the first wave (March-April 2020) in those who are hospitalized. “Data from the International Severe Acute Respiratory and Emerging Infection Consortium have shown a mortality of 27% (400 of 1482 died) in individuals hospitalized with COVID-19 in the UK more than 21 days after vaccination.” This suggests that while COVID-19 vaccination reduces the risk of severe COVID symptoms, mortality rates in COVID-19 hospital cases remain high, at least in the UK.