How Soon After An Initial Jab Does The Vaccine Offer Some Protection?

[sandyRoe]

I've been cautious for what seems an eternity and wouldn't want to jump the gun by taking risks too early.

[bobbinwales]

takes up to 3 weeks but probably nearly there after 2 and some after one week

[sandyRoe]

It's Pfizer I had. I'll be careful.

[emmie]

give it three weeks has been the advice all along.

[dannyk13]

Sandy, are you talking about the first jab or the second one?

[roopower]

Agree, about three weeks and there is good protection. Much better after second, of course.

[sandyRoe]

Dannyk13,
The first one which I got on 26th June.

[dannyk13]

//The 1st dose should give you some protection from 3 or 4 weeks //

[theprof]

Oh if only it were so simple.

A minimum of 10 days is required for the immune system to start making antibodies that can recognise the Covid spike protein following vaccination with any of the vaccines currently available in the UK.

In the case of the AZ vaccine, antibodies can be detected after 14 days with further increases over the following two weeks. The second dose of all vaccines "primes" the immune system much more rapidly than the first.

Furthermore, you have to remember that the immune response to all Covid vaccines decrease with age which is reflected in the vaccination regime in the UK.

I'm in full agreement with the stipulated three week period mentioned above ( it's officially 22 days ). But there are many other factors at work here not least the age of the vaccines.

[theprof]

Sorry, the last word should be "vaccinee".

[sandyRoe]

It looks as though I need to be careful until the end of August. We've all had a long wait and a few more weeks I can put up with.

[woofgang]

Gosh sandy I thought you were older than that, my second vac was mid may!

[sandyRoe]

Woofgang, I'm a sprightly 74. :-)
I'd have got the inoculation long ago if I'd been at home. I was in Spain and they were very slow in rolling out their vaccination programme.

[woofgang]

oh ok :)

[Bazile]

//The second dose of all vaccines "primes" the immune system much more rapidly than the first//

the prof
Do you mean the second dose increases the rate at which further antibodies are made ?
Please can you elaborate

[sunny-dave]

Current advice is that protection against Delta variant (rife in NI), is only really effective two weeks after your SECOND Pfizer jab.