PLoS ONE (Jan 2024)

How does COVID-19 vaccination affect long-COVID symptoms?

  • Ali A Asadi-Pooya,
  • Meshkat Nemati,
  • Mina Shahisavandi,
  • Hamid Nemati,
  • Afrooz Karimi,
  • Anahita Jafari,
  • Sara Nasiri,
  • Seyyed Saeed Mohammadi,
  • Zahra Rahimian,
  • Hossein Bayat,
  • Ali Akbari,
  • Amir Emami,
  • Owrang Eilami

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0296680
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 19, no. 2
p. e0296680

Abstract

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ObjectiveThe current study aimed to identify the association between COVID-19 vaccination and prolonged post-COVID symptoms (long-COVID) in adults who reported suffering from this condition.MethodsThis was a retrospective follow-up study of adults with long-COVID syndrome. The data were collected during a phone call to the participants in January-February 2022. We inquired about their current health status and also their vaccination status if they agreed to participate.ResultsIn total, 1236 people were studied; 543 individuals reported suffering from long long- COVID (43.9%). Chi square test showed that 15 out of 51 people (29.4%) with no vaccination and 528 out of 1185 participants (44.6%) who received at least one dose of any vaccine had long long- COVID symptoms (p = 0.032).ConclusionsIn people who have already contracted COVID-19 and now suffer from long-COVID, receiving a COVID vaccination has a significant association with prolonged symptoms of long-COVID for more than one year after the initial infection. However, vaccines reduce the risk of severe COVID-19 (including reinfections) and its catastrophic consequences (e.g., death). Therefore, it is strongly recommended that all people, even those with a history of COVID-19, receive vaccines to protect themselves against this fatal viral infection.