I have MS and had covid in January 2021...do I need to get vaccinated?

Here is My Question:
I was diagnosed with RRMS 10 years ago... I had COVID 19 back in January 2021 and it was a long recovery... do I need to get the vaccine... if so, do I need both shots?

Answer:
The CDC currently recommends COVID19 vaccination at least 90 days following complete recovery from a COVID19 infection. Deciding whether to follow these guidelines is complicated in people with MS and depends on the following information:

1. What are your risk factors for a severe COVID19 infection (i.e. older age, diabetes, heart disease, obesity, immunosuppression ?). Remember, the next time around you could be infected by a more virulent strain of the virus, so you cannot assume you will experience the infection in the same manner the second time around.
2. What is your current risk of infection based on the current case positivity rate? The case positivity rate is declining rapidly in the US and your risk of infection at present, assuming some residual prior immunity from the initial infection, is probably very low. 
3. Were you significantly immunosuppressed when you experienced your initial COVID19 infection? If you were immunosuppressed, vaccination 90 days following recovery from the COVID19 infection may be necessary to provide the required long lasting immunity.
4. Are you at risk of harming others with a COVID19 infection? A good example is if you live with an elderly relative or someone with a high risk of infection who cannot get vaccinated for some reason or if you may come into contact frequently with people who may not be vaccinated. This would also be a good reason to get vaccinated now.

Remember, it is possible we will all require booster vaccines in the future regardless of whether your initial exposure to COVID19 was through vaccination or natural infection. 
If you decide not to get vaccinated now, stay tuned to any updated information provided by the CDC and local health officials to help with your decisions.

Those who have not experienced a definite COVID19 infection should get vaccinated for the personal benefits as well as the good of society. Remember, this virus must infect humans to replicate and mutate. It is the mutations that cause more infectious and lethal variants to emerge, as we have seen in Brazil and more recently in India. India was doing well in their control of the virus for the first year, other than a minor spike in the fall of 2020,  but failed to vaccinate people when vaccines became available. The result is a public health disaster. This could happen anywhere if the infection is allowed to linger in residual hosts (i.e. non vaccinated people).  

​Revere (Rip) Kinkel MD
Director of the Multiple Sclerosis Program
Professor of Clinical Neurosciences
University of California San Diego