A systematic review, published in the journal Lancet Infectious Diseases, found that hybrid immunity offers the “best protection”.
The findings showed that people who previously had Covid and received a jab were well protected from hospital admission or severe disease a year later.
In fact, the mix of the two seems to provide higher protection against reinfection than vaccination or infection alone.
The research, led by the World Health Organisation, highlighted the protective benefits of vaccination even after people had coronavirus.
Aside from getting your booster, Dr Lopes explained that social distancing also remains a strong protective measure.
He said: “Minimise contact with people displaying Covid-like symptoms, and observe good hygiene practices by washing your hands.
“Use alcohol-based solutions to clean your hands if access to soapy water is not an option. However, using too much can also lead to irritation and dry hands.
“Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth, and cover your mouth and nose while sneezing.”
The lecturer in microbiology also suggested wearing a face covering for an extra layer of protection.
In a previous interview with Express.co.uk, Dr Chris Papadopoulos, Principal Lecturer in Public Health at the University of Bedfordshire, recommended opting for N95 and FFP2/FFP3 coverings as they are the “gold standard” that offers the “best overall protection”.
Dr Papadopoulos said: “These masks achieve a close facial fit and are capable of filtering out at least 95 percent of airborne particles, including both large respiratory droplets and smaller particles.
“They are commonly used in healthcare settings as they are considered the gold standard.”
