Can You Get COVID-19 More Than Once?

Yes — you can get COVID-19 more than once. Reinfection with SARS-CoV-2 is well-documented and has become increasingly common as new variants with strong immune evasion properties (particularly Omicron and its descendants) emerged. Prior infection provides meaningful but incomplete and waning protection against future infections with different variants. Most reinfections are milder than first infections in vaccinated or previously infected people, but severe reinfections do occur, particularly in older adults, immunocompromised individuals, and those who have never been vaccinated.

COVID-19 infection or vaccination produces several types of immunity:

Neutralizing antibodies — peak 3–6 weeks after infection/vaccination, then decline over months
T-cell immunity — more durable, reduces severe disease risk even when antibodies wane
B-cell memory — allows rapid antibody production upon re-exposure

The problem with SARS-CoV-2 is rapid antigenic evolution. Omicron was so antigenically different from the original Wuhan strain that prior immunity from infection or original vaccines provided substantially less protection against Omicron infection — though protection against severe disease was better maintained.

Reinfection rates have increased with each major variant shift. Studies from the UK, US, and elsewhere show that by late 2022 and into 2023, reinfection was the dominant form of COVID infection — more people were catching COVID for the second or third time than catching it for the first time. Omicron's immune evasion properties mean even people with recent prior infection have measurable reinfection risk within 3–6 months. The risk of reinfection is lower in people who are both vaccinated AND have had prior infection (hybrid immunity).

Yes — each COVID infection, including reinfections, carries a risk of triggering Long COVID (post-acute sequelae of COVID, PASC). Studies suggest this risk may be somewhat lower with reinfection vs first infection, and lower with Omicron vs earlier variants, but it is not zero. Some research suggests Long COVID risk accumulates with each infection — this is one reason public health authorities continue to recommend reducing unnecessary COVID exposures even in people who have had multiple prior infections.

How soon after COVID can you get reinfected?: Theoretically possible within weeks, but most people have some protection for 2–3 months after infection. In practice, reinfection within 90 days is rare. After 3–6 months, reinfection risk increases substantially, especially with antigenically distinct variants. There is no minimum required gap — if you were exposed to a new variant shortly after recovery, you could be reinfected.
Is the second COVID infection milder?: Usually but not always. For most vaccinated or previously infected people, reinfection is milder — less likely to cause hospitalization or require supplemental oxygen. However, for older adults (65+), immunocompromised individuals, and unvaccinated people, severe reinfections do occur. Long COVID can develop from reinfections of any severity.
Does vaccination prevent reinfection?: Vaccination significantly reduces reinfection risk but does not eliminate it. Studies show vaccines reduced reinfection risk by 40–80% during Delta-era; this dropped to 30–50% against Omicron. Importantly, vaccination consistently reduces severe disease and Long COVID risk even when it does not prevent infection. Updated annual boosters targeting current circulating variants maintain better protection throughout the year.