Covid-19 vaccine could change virus symptoms, study suggests

It’s still possible to contract Covid-19 even after being vaccinated, but a new study has revealed the symptoms you experience could be slightly different.

Researchers at King’s College London revealed what to expect from Covid post-vaccination, including who is most at risk.

While it’s possible to still catch coronavirus post jab, the vaccine slashes the risk of severe disease, hospitalisation and death - and helps stop transmission, The Sun reports.

They collected data on thousands of people in the UK using the ZOE Covid Symptom Study app.

Of 1.1 million app users who had a first dose, almost 2,400 (0.2 per cent) reported a positive Covid test.

And of the half a million who had received two doses, 187 (0.03 per cent) tested positive weeks after.

Those who had been inoculated were less likely to report any of the symptoms of the coronavirus.

They were almost 70 per cent less likely to have a fever compared to those unvaccinated, and 55 per cent less likely to suffer fatigue.

Loss of smell, chills and headache were all slashed by at least half.

Vaccinated people with Covid reported similar levels of shortness of breath, earache and swollen glands.

But there was one symptom significantly more common in people under 60 years old who were unlucky enough to get Covid post-jab.

Sneezing was 24 per cent more common in this age group.

It has never been flagged as a sign of Covid infection, more typically seen in people with the flu or a cold.

The surprised researchers said: “We are unaware of previous reports of sneezing being more common post-vaccination for other respiratory illnesses …”

“But it is a well-recognised symptom of both respiratory infection and allergy prompted by nasal mucosa irritation.”

The researchers explained that people with allergies sneeze because the germs quickly activate their immune system.

They theorised those whose immune systems are “primed” against Covid due to vaccination may react in the same way.

They also warned that sneezing may be a symptom to be wary of in the future because it could signal someone is carrying the virus.

“Sneezing generates aerosols; potentially of importance for viral transmission in the post-vaccine era,” the paper said.

Vaccines have shown to be slashing Covid cases by reducing transmission of the virus.

But, as this study proves, people will still get infected and may be contagious to others.

However, as hoped, the vaccines appear to be dampening the seriousness of infection, even though a very small number could still end up in hospital.

Those with a jab were 49 per cent less likely to have severe disease - measured as having more than five symptoms.

Asymptomatic disease - with no symptoms at all - was 72 per cent more likely.

Patients were 64 per cent less likely to go to hospital for their treatment than their unvaccinated counterparts.

In terms of who is more at risk of Covid post-jab - women have higher odds, making up almost 70 per cent of cases.

The data showed that in the under 60-year-olds, obesity and living in deprived areas were risk factors for post-jab Covid.

Those who were healthy were less likely to be struck with the disease, particularly if they steered away from junk food.

The researchers said the effect of the vaccine “may be influenced by diet quality and obesity”.

Older adults over 60 years old were nearly three times more likely to get Covid if they were frail.

And people were most likely to have asthma (14.5 per cent) and lung disease (10.9 per cent) of all underlying conditions.

The study comes as the Health Secretary has hailed the vaccines for breaking the link between Covid cases and hospital admissions and death.

It means that even if cases rise, it does not mean hospital and fatality rates will go up in the same pattern as they used to.

But he said around one in ten people in hospital with Covid in the hot spots of the Indian variant were fully vaccinated.

The vast majority have not had any jab, which “gives us a high degree of confidence that the vaccine is highly effective”, Mr Hancock told MPs.

He told the Commons “this pandemic isn’t over yet”, adding: “Our vaccination program has reached 73 per cent of the adult population, but that means that more than a quarter still haven’t been jabbed.

“Forty-three per cent of adults have had both jabs, but that means that more than half are yet to get the fullest possible protection that two jabs gives.”