As the pandemic unfolded, there have been continuous updates on what the symptoms of COVID-19 are and how you should react accordingly. These symptoms are important to know for travel purposes especially, and in the UK from October 2021, fully vaccinated arrivals are required to take a rapid lateral flow test on day 2 after arriving in England from a non red-list country, according to Medicspot.
Listed below are the different symptoms and how they might change based on your vaccination status:
Fully Vaccinated
Research has shown that there are similar symptoms being reported by those who are vaccinated with those who aren’t. With those who are fully vaccinated, fewer symptoms are reported. This shows that those who have the vaccine are not getting as seriously ill, and that they often recover from the virus more quickly.
Those who have been fully vaccinated usually experience:
- Headache
- Persistent Cough
- Runny nose
- Sneezing
- Sore Throat
Some of the more common symptoms that were prevalent at the start of the pandemic, such as loss of smell and taste, fevers and shortness of breath are less likely to happen if you have been fully vaccinated. If you are fully vaccinated and do experience any of the listed symptoms, you should get a PCR test as soon as possible.
Single Dose
There are noticeable symptoms for those who have had one dose, such as:
- Headache
- Persistent Cough
- Runny nose
- Sneezing
- Sore Throat
The results show that after having one vaccine, the symptoms are still similar to that of being fully vaccinated. As mentioned previously, if you are fully vaccinated it will help you recover from them more quickly.
What if I am not vaccinated?
If you are not vaccinated, the symptoms you experience are likely to be more intense.
- New and continuous cough – coughing continuously for more than an hour, experiencing 3 or more coughing episodes in 24 hours
- Fever – a temperature above 37.8C that persists
- Change in smell or taste – your taste and smell have been altered or do not exist anymore
Public Health England says about 85% of people with Covid will have at least one of these symptoms.
Is Covid the same in everyone?
Covid does not present itself in the same way from person to person, so it is important to know the different ways it can affect you. If you experience even the slightest of symptoms, for your safety and for the safety of others it is important to get tested.
Through scientific research on the health of four million people, it can be argued that there are six ‘sub-types’ of Covid. They are:
- Flu-like with no fever: This includes no fever, but common symptoms like muscle pains, headaches, loss of smell and taste, cough and sore throat
- Flu-like with fever: This includes having a fever, cough and sore throat, a hoarseness to the throat, loss of appetite and smell
- Gastrointestinal: This refers to having loss of smell, loss of appetite, sore throat but with no cough, as well as having diarrhoea and headache
- Fatigue (severe level one): This refers to fatigue, headache, fever, loss of smell, chest pains
- Confusion (severe level two): This refers to loss of smell, cough, fever, hoarseness, sore throat, confusion, muscle pain
- Abdominal and respiratory (severe level three): This refers to loss of appetite, smell, chest pain, confusion, shortness of breath, abdominal pain
Regarding coronavirus in children, the symptoms can also vary. It is important to be cautious, but some of the most common are abdominal cramps, vomiting, diarrhoea.
If you are in the UK and are worried your symptoms are getting worse, it is important that you use the NHS 111 Online website in England, or regional equivalents in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
