If you are receiving one of the vaccines to combat Covid-19, there are a few things you can do to give the vaccine a better chance of working, based on the evidence we have from research on other vaccines .
Here are five tips on this.
Five things to do
These factors could be so important that some scientists believe ignoring them could reduce the overall success of the COVID-19 vaccine launch:
- Avoid stress . Many studies have found that people who experience stress have weaker antibody responses to vaccines, and positive mood on the day of vaccination is linked to a more robust response.
- Sleep well Studies report that people who get enough sleep the nights before vaccination have stronger antibody responses than those who get less sleep.
- Connect with family and friends . Research suggests that having better social support improves the chances of a strong response, while loneliness is linked to lower antibody responses.
- Avoid alcohol . Drinking a lot before and after a vaccine disrupts the function of immune cells, which can decrease the body’s ability to defend itself against a virus.
- Get exercise . Studies have found that an active lifestyle, or a 15-minute workout before the shot, is associated with stronger immune responses to vaccines.