People who have recovered from COVID-19 are left with many questions—including about lingering symptoms, vaccines, and what to do to help those still suffering from the disease. Combat COVID, a website created by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), has answers to some of those questions for you.*

What lingering symptoms might I have?

Many recovered COVID-19 patients have reported the following lingering symptoms: 

• Anxiety
• Brain fog (trouble concentrating or remembering)
• Depression
• Dizziness
• Fatigue 
• Joint pain
• Loss of smell or taste sense
• Muscle aches and pains
• Persistent cough
• Racing heartbeat
• Rash
• Shortness of breath  
• Vision changes

Do I still need to get the COVID-19 vaccine?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) state that “you should be vaccinated regardless of whether you already had COVID-19. That’s because experts do not yet know how long you are protected from getting sick again after recovering from COVID-19. Even if you have already recovered from COVID-19, it is possible—although rare—that you could be infected with the virus that causes COVID-19 again.”

Moreover, if you were treated for COVID-19 with monoclonal antibodies or convalescent plasma, you should wait 90 days before getting the vaccine.

If you have further questions about getting the COVID-19 vaccine, ask your healthcare provider for guidance.

How can I help current COVID-19 patients? 

The FDA has authorized the emergency use of plasma (liquid part of the blood) for COVID-19 patients in hospitals. If you have recovered from COVID-19, your convalescent plasma contains antibodies that can help someone else fight the disease. You may be able to help save critically ill COVID-19 patients by donating blood plasma.

To do so, you would need to:

• Meet all donor eligibility criteria 
• Have documented evidence of COVID-19
• Be symptom-free for at least 14 days prior to the donation

A negative COVID-19 lab test is not necessary.

Where can I go to donate plasma?

If you’re interested in donating convalescent plasma to help treat critically ill COVID-19 patients, you can visit the website of any of these organizations:

• The Fight is In Us
• COVIDPlasma (Initiative by the American Association of Blood Banks)
• America’s Blood Centers
• American Red Cross
• Blood Centers of America
• CoVIg-19 Plasma Alliance
• National COVID-19 Convalescent Plasma Project
• DonatingPlasma.org

Is it possible for me to get COVID-19 again?

Coronavirus reinfections are possible, as are breakthrough infections for those who are vaccinated. Research on recurrence rates is still in the early stages, however. If a test determines that your body contains COVID-19 antibodies, then it’s likely that you are immune from getting the disease again for a certain length of time. The duration of that immunity is uncertain.

People who have recovered from COVID-19 will continue to carry low levels of the virus. For this reason, if you are recovered and not showing new symptoms, you should not get a new test for at least three months, as it could trigger a positive result. If you are experiencing new symptoms, however, get tested immediately.

Do I still need to get a flu vaccine after having COVID-19?

The Department of HHS recommends that everyone six (6) months of age and older (except those with severe allergies to vaccine ingredients) should get an annual flu vaccine. It’s especially important that you get one after having COVID-19, as COVID compromises your immune system, and you can remain vulnerable to other infections for months after recovery. 

If you have questions about your specific medical history and flu vaccines, speak with your doctor or pharmacist.

*United States Department of Health and Human Services. (2021, Mar. 6). I Had COVID-19 in the Past. https://combatcovid.hhs.gov/ive-had-covid-19 

Much about the novel coronavirus, i.e., COVID-19, is still not fully understood. As research progresses and our knowledge of the virus increases, information can change rapidly. We strive to update all of our articles as quickly as possible, but there may occasionally be some lag between scientific developments and our revisions.