If You Get Swine Flu And Recover, Are You Then Immune To It?

September 1, 2009 -- Question: Does swine flu recovery grant immunity?

Answer: This is a really important question. I think the first part of it is that it can't just be the clinical suspicion that you have swine flu. It has to be a laboratory documented infection. In that case, at least so far, you would be protected against subsequent waves of swine flu. However, historically what has sometimes happened is that with the first or second or next wave of this particular virus, the virus can mutate, and that's a characteristic of influenza viruses. If that happened, then having been previously infected might not protect you against subsequent variations of the virus. For that reason, unless you've had laboratory documentation of swine flu, it will still be recommended that you receive the vaccine.