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. 2025 Mar 17;231(3):665-676.
doi: 10.1093/infdis/jiae556.

Association of Messenger RNA Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Vaccination and Reductions in Post COVID Conditions Following Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Infection in a US Prospective Cohort of Essential Workers

Josephine Mak  1 , Sana Khan  2 , Amadea Britton  1 , Spencer Rose  3 , Lisa Gwynn  4 , Katherine D Ellingson  2 , Jennifer Meece  5 , Leora R Feldstein  1 , Harmony Tyner  6 , Laura J Edwards  7 , Matthew S Thiese  8 , Allison Naleway  9 , Manjusha Gaglani  3   10 , Natasha Solle  11 , Jefferey L Burgess  12 , Julie Mayo Lamberte  1 , Meghan Shea  7 , Taryn Hunt-Smith  8 , Alberto Caban-Martinez  13 , Cynthia Porter  2 , Ryan Wiegand  1 , Ramona Rai  7 , Kurt T Hegmann  8 , James Hollister  12 , Ashley Fowlkes  1 , Meredith Wesley  7 , Andrew L Philips  8 , Patrick Rivers  14 , Robin Bloodworth  7 , Gabriella Newes-Adeyi  7 , Lauren E W Olsho  7 , Sarang K Yoon  8 , Sharon Saydah  1 , Karen Lutrick  14
Affiliations

Association of Messenger RNA Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Vaccination and Reductions in Post COVID Conditions Following Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Infection in a US Prospective Cohort of Essential Workers

Josephine Mak et al. J Infect Dis. .

Abstract

Background: Data are limited on whether vaccination reduces post COVID conditions (PCCs) risk after less severe nonhospitalized coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). This study assessed whether COVID-19 vaccination protected against PCCs in persons with mild initial infections during Delta and Omicron variant predominance.

Methods: This study utilized a case-control design, nested within the HEROES-RECOVER cohort. Participants aged ≥18 years with test-confirmed severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus disease 2 (SARS-CoV-2) between 28 June 2021 and 14 September 2022 were surveyed for PCCs, defined by symptoms lasting >4 weeks after initial infection. Cases self-reported PCCs and controls self-reported no PCCs. The exposure was messenger RNA (mRNA) COVID-19 vaccination (2 or 3 monovalent doses). Odds of PCCs among vaccinated and unvaccinated persons were compared with logistic regression.

Results: Of 936 participants, 23.6% reported PCCs and 83.2% were vaccinated. Participants who received 3 vaccine doses had lower odds of PCC-related gastrointestinal, neurological, and other symptoms compared to unvaccinated participants (adjusted odds ratio [95% confidence interval]: 0.37 [.16-.85], 0.56 [.32-.97], and 0.48 [.25-.91], respectively).

Conclusions: COVID-19 vaccination protected against development of PCCs among persons with mild infection during both Delta and Omicron variant predominance, supporting vaccination as an important PCCs prevention tool.

Keywords: COVID-19; COVID-19 vaccines; Long COVID; mRNA vaccines; post-COVID conditions.

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Conflict of interest statement

Potential conflicts of interest. M. S. T. and S. K. Y. have received funding from Novavax through their institution. All authors have submitted the ICMJE Form for Disclosure of Potential Conflicts of Interest. Conflicts that the editors consider relevant to the content of the manuscript have been disclosed.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials (CONSORT) diagram of HEROES-RECOVER cohort participants included in an analysis of association of messenger RNA (mRNA) coronavirus disease 2019 vaccination and occurrence of post-COVID conditions after severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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