January 26, 2023 11:06
Coronavirus vaccination can reduce the chances of long-term side effects by two-thirds, a study suggests.
The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency said while 30 percent of adults who received at least two coronavirus vaccine shots suffered from long COVID -- meaning side effects persisted for a month or more -- but the proportion rose to 44.8 percent among unvaccinated people.
The findings are based on a study of 3,915 people between June and December last year.
Overall 24.7 percent of all infected people suffered from long-term side effects such as coughing and phlegm, fatigue and sore throats -- 30.7 percent of women and 16.1 percent of men.
Of these, 68 percent complained that the side effects were severe enough to obstruct daily life, and 57 percent did not seek treatment. Only 36 percent received medical treatment in hospitals or clinics and seven percent only bought drugs in pharmacies.
Another study from August to November last year suggests that 19.7 percent of vaccinated people developed long COVID, compared to 23.4 percent of unvaccinated people.
Earlier, researchers at St. Louis VA Medical Center said taking Paxlovid within five days after infection reduced the chances of long COVID by 26 percent.
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