{"id":7421,"date":"2022-03-10T09:28:37","date_gmt":"2022-03-10T01:28:37","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/lifeclinic.com.hk\/the-top-5-womens-health-issues-2\/"},"modified":"2025-04-14T15:30:29","modified_gmt":"2025-04-14T07:30:29","slug":"take-care-of-your-immunity-even-if-youre-vaccinated","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lifeclinic.com.hk\/take-care-of-your-immunity-even-if-youre-vaccinated\/","title":{"rendered":"Take Care of Your Immunity (Even if You\u2019re Vaccinated)"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wpb-content-wrapper\"><div class=\"vc_row wpb_row vc_row-fluid\"><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-12\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n\t<div class=\"wpb_text_column wpb_content_element\" >\n\t\t<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<p>COVID-19 vaccination adherence has been increasing dramatically. But some people are still confused about what that means for their immunity, and if they can still contract the virus. This article collects information provided from various leading health authorities to shed light on COVID-19 breakthrough infections and immunity.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_81 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-light-blue ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title ez-toc-toggle\" style=\"cursor:pointer\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/lifeclinic.com.hk\/take-care-of-your-immunity-even-if-youre-vaccinated\/#How_Do_COVID-19_Vaccines_Work1\" >How Do COVID-19 Vaccines Work?1<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/lifeclinic.com.hk\/take-care-of-your-immunity-even-if-youre-vaccinated\/#What_is_a_Breakthrough_Infection2\" >What is a Breakthrough Infection?2<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/lifeclinic.com.hk\/take-care-of-your-immunity-even-if-youre-vaccinated\/#Risk_Factors_of_COVID-19_Breakthrough_Infection\" >Risk Factors of COVID-19 Breakthrough Infection<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_Do_COVID-19_Vaccines_Work1\"><\/span><strong><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/coronavirus\/2019-ncov\/vaccines\/different-vaccines\/how-they-work.html#:~:text=mRNA%20vaccines%20(Pfizer%2DBioNTech%20or,genetic%20material%20from%20the%20vaccine.\">How Do COVID-19 Vaccines Work?<sup>1<\/sup><\/a><\/span><\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>All COVID-19 vaccines work to create a natural immune response to an element of the COVID-19 virus. This means that if we come in contact with the COVID-19 virus, our immune cells will recognize it and remember how to fight it off. Vaccines are not able to stop you from coming in contact with the virus.<\/p>\n<p>Although they work in the same way, different vaccines have different methods of delivering the element of the virus, which will be recognized and attacked by the body.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>mRNA vaccines (Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna)<\/strong>\u00a0contain material from the virus that causes COVID-19. This gives our cells the instructions for how to make a harmless protein that is unique to the virus. After our cells make copies of the protein, they destroy the genetic material from the vaccine.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Protein subunit vaccines (vaccines under development)<\/strong>\u00a0contain harmless pieces of proteins from the virus that causes COVID-19.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Vector vaccines (Johnson &amp; Johnson\u2019s Janssen)<\/strong>\u00a0contain a modified version of a different virus than the one that causes COVID-19. Inside the shell of the modified virus, there is material from the virus that causes COVID-19. Once inside our cells, the genetic material gives instructions to make a protein that is unique to the virus that causes COVID-19. Using these instructions, our cells make copies of the protein before destroying the genetic material from the vaccine.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-7423\" src=\"https:\/\/lifeclinic.com.hk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/vaccine-300x116.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"659\" height=\"255\" srcset=\"https:\/\/lifeclinic.com.hk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/vaccine-300x116.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/lifeclinic.com.hk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/vaccine-1024x395.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/lifeclinic.com.hk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/vaccine-768x296.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/lifeclinic.com.hk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/vaccine-18x7.jpeg 18w, https:\/\/lifeclinic.com.hk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/vaccine.jpeg 1297w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 659px) 100vw, 659px\" \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"wpb_text_column wpb_content_element \">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_is_a_Breakthrough_Infection2\"><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.hopkinsmedicine.org\/health\/conditions-and-diseases\/coronavirus\/breakthrough-infections-coronavirus-after-vaccination\">What is a Breakthrough Infection?<sup>2<\/sup><\/a><\/strong><\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>A breakthrough infection is an infection of the pathogen (i.e. a virus) after you have been vaccinated. This is an expected occurrence for a small percentage of those receiving any vaccine, since no vaccine for any disease is 100% effective in preventing infection in every person who receives it.<\/p>\n<p>Breakthrough COVID-19 infections happen when someone who has been fully vaccinated becomes infected. Earlier data approximated COVID-19 breakthrough infections at a rate of about 1 in 5,000. However, more recent data has shown breakthrough infection rates of approximately 1 in 100 fully vaccinated people.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wpb_text_column wpb_content_element \">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Risk_Factors_of_COVID-19_Breakthrough_Infection\"><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><strong><u>Risk Factors of COVID-19 Breakthrough Infection<\/u><\/strong><\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Anyone can get a COVID-19 breakthrough infection, however, having a weakened immune system is a leading risk factor.<sup>2\u00a0<\/sup>Causes of a weakened immune system:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Age:\u00a0<\/strong>our immune system tends to become less robust against external pathogens as we age. This leads to increased risk of infection and a higher case fatality rate for COVID-19.<sup>3<\/sup><\/li>\n<li><strong>C<\/strong><strong>ertain medical conditions or treatments:<\/strong>\u00a0these include organ transplants, HIV and some cancers and chemotherapy<\/li>\n<li><strong>Smoking:\u00a0<\/strong>chronic smoking has been shown to compromise respiratory function in adults and may lead to increased susceptibility to COVID-19<sup>4,5<\/sup><\/li>\n<li><strong>Poor nutrient status:<\/strong>\u00a0Malnutrition or nutritional deficiencies can result in lowered immunity and reduced resistance to infection<sup>6<\/sup><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"wpb_text_column wpb_content_element \">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-7424\" src=\"https:\/\/lifeclinic.com.hk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/food-300x200.webp\" alt=\"\" width=\"620\" height=\"413\" srcset=\"https:\/\/lifeclinic.com.hk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/food-300x200.webp 300w, https:\/\/lifeclinic.com.hk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/food-1024x682.webp 1024w, https:\/\/lifeclinic.com.hk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/food-768x512.webp 768w, https:\/\/lifeclinic.com.hk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/food-1536x1024.webp 1536w, https:\/\/lifeclinic.com.hk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/food-18x12.webp 18w, https:\/\/lifeclinic.com.hk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/food.webp 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 620px) 100vw, 620px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>We all need to work together to keep ourselves and each other healthy. Some measures like vaccines, work at a societal level to reduce infection rates in the population. Other measures like diet and lifestyle, work at an individual level.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thelifehub.com\/CONTACT-US\/\">Contact us<\/a>\u00a0to talk to our team about how to keep your immune system working optimally.<\/p>\n<p>*This article is for educational purposes only.\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.coronavirus.gov.hk\/eng\/index.html\">Learn more<\/a>\u00a0about COVID-19 in Hong Kong.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wpb_text_column wpb_content_element \">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>References<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Understanding How COVID-19 Vaccines Work. Available at:\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/coronavirus\/2019-ncov\/vaccines\/different-vaccines\/how-they-work.html\">https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/coronavirus\/2019-ncov\/vaccines\/different-vaccines\/how-they-work.html<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>John Hopkins. Breakthrough Infections: Coronavirus After Vaccination. Available at:\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.hopkinsmedicine.org\/health\/conditions-and-diseases\/coronavirus\/breakthrough-infections-coronavirus-after-vaccination\">https:\/\/www.hopkinsmedicine.org\/health\/conditions-and-diseases\/coronavirus\/breakthrough-infections-coronavirus-after-vaccination<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>Montecino-Rodriguez, Encarnacion et al. \u201cCauses, consequences, and reversal of immune system aging.\u201d\u00a0<em>The Journal of clinical investigation.<\/em>\u00a0123,3 (2013): 958-65. doi:10.1172\/JCI64096<\/li>\n<li>Burchfiel, CM, et al. Effects of smoking and smoking cessation on longitudinal decline in pulmonary function. 1995.\u00a0<em>Am J Respir Crit Care Med<\/em>. 1995 Jun;151(6):1778-85.<\/li>\n<li>Kenfield SA., et al. Burden of smoking on cause-specific mortality: application to the Nurses\u2019 Health Study.\u00a0<em>Tob Control.\u00a0<\/em>2010 Jun; 19(3): 248\u2013254. doi: 10.1136\/tc.2009.032839<\/li>\n<li>Karacabey K., et al. The Effect of Nutritional Elements on the Immune System.\u00a0<em>J Obes Wt Loss Ther<\/em>\u00a02:152. doi:10.4172\/2165-7904.1000152<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"COVID-19 vaccination adherence has been increasing dramatically. But some people are still confused about what that means for their immunity, and if they can still contract the virus. This article collects information provided from various leading health authorities to shed light on COVID-19 breakthrough infections and immunity. &nbsp; How Do COVID-19 Vaccines Work?1 All COVID-19 [...]","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":7425,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[82,204,176],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7421","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-cancer","category-functional-medicine","category-nutrition"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/lifeclinic.com.hk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/defence.jpeg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lifeclinic.com.hk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7421","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lifeclinic.com.hk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lifeclinic.com.hk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lifeclinic.com.hk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lifeclinic.com.hk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7421"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/lifeclinic.com.hk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7421\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8907,"href":"https:\/\/lifeclinic.com.hk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7421\/revisions\/8907"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lifeclinic.com.hk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7425"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lifeclinic.com.hk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7421"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lifeclinic.com.hk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7421"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lifeclinic.com.hk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7421"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}