Q: Can I become infected by COVID-19 more than once?

A: Yes. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): “Recovery from many viral infectious diseases is followed by a period of infection-induced immunologic protection against reinfection. This phenomenon is widely observed with many respiratory viral infections, including both influenza and the endemic coronaviruses, for which acquired immunity also wanes over time, making individuals susceptible to reinfection.”

So, while you may have a short period after contracting COVID-19 during which you have a heightened natural immunity, it diminishes over time, leaving you susceptible to the virus again. The emergence of new variants of the coronavirus also increases the risk of reinfection.

Q: How likely is a reinfection?

A: There is no definitive evidence about many aspects of COVID-19 reinfection. According to the CDC, studies are ongoing to determine:

• How often reinfections occur

• Who is at higher risk of reinfection

• How soon reinfections take place after a previous infection

• The severity of reinfections compared to the initial infection

• The risk of transmission to others after reinfection

Q: If I have had COVID-19 and have built up antibodies, why do I need to get vaccinated?

A: Vaccines are still the best protection against contracting COVID-19. Studies have shown that people who got COVID-19 in 2020 who remained unvaccinated were more than twice as likely to get sick again in 2021 than those who were vaccinated.

If you have any questions relating to your benefits for COVID-19, call PacFed at (818) 243-0222.