Individuals who received the COVID-19 vaccine had lower odds of hospitalization and were more likely to be asymptomatic if infected with SARS-CoV-2, according to a study published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases. Participants with COVID-19 had received a first or second dose of the vaccine between December 8, 2020 and July 4, 2021 and had a positive COVID-19 test at least 14 days after their first vaccine dose but before their second dose, or at least 7 days after their second vaccine dose; controls had a negative test. Researchers found that the odds of infection after the first vaccine dose were higher in those aged 60 or older with frailty (OR, 1.93) and among individuals living in highly deprived areas (OR, 1.11); the odds were lower for individuals without obesity (OR, 0.84). Vaccination was associated with lower odds of hospitalization and having more than five symptoms in the first week of illness following either vaccine dose, in addition to lower odds of long-duration symptoms after the second dose. Compared with infected unvaccinated individuals, infected vaccinated individuals reported almost all symptoms less frequently. Vaccinated individuals were also more likely to be completely asymptomatic.

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