Answer given by Ms Kyriakides on behalf of the European Commission

2.7.2021

1. It is still not completely understood to what extent individuals fully vaccinated against COVID-19 will be protected from the disease in real-life conditions. Likewise, more evidence is needed to understand the ability of COVID-19 vaccines to prevent transmission of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), and even fully vaccinated individuals should therefore continue to follow public health measures in place.

2. COVID-19 vaccines are shown to protect fully vaccinated individuals from serious illness in case of reinfection with SARS-CoV-2, but as mentioned above, it is still not completely understood to what extent such individuals are protected. This also applies to the duration of the protection acquired by vaccination.

3. As it is the case for the duration of the protection against COVID-19 acquired by vaccination, the duration of the natural immunity acquired after infection with SARS-CoV-2 is still not completely understood. Vaccination is therefore recommended even for individuals who have previously been infected and recovered from the disease.