Can Alcohol Consumption Impact On Vaccine Effectiveness?

A science-backed article exploring claims that we should temporarily abstain from alcohol pre and post-vaccination.

The development of several vaccines against Coronavirus infection has been an incredible achievement in the microbiology industry. After almost a year of restrictions, there is a glimmer of hope in the vaccine rollouts that have begun in many countries around the world. Whilst we can’t control when we get the vaccine, there is one small factor within our control that could impact on the effectiveness of the vaccine: Our alcohol consumption.

I understand how calming a nice glass of wine can be after a long day of working from home in an everlasting groundhog day. When there is a choice between sitting and watching tv or zooming friends, alcohol is the perfect non-judgemental companion. If you’re feeling low from the lockdown restrictions and need a pick-me-up, alcohol also has you covered with a short-term feel-good fix. It’s no wonder that 31% of UK drinkers are drinking more and drinking beyond the recommended guidelines since the pandemic began. In the long-term, this increase in drinking has negative ramifications for both mental and physical health. Not only that, but we should be cautious about the implications of our drinking habits around the time of our vaccination.

How does alcohol affect the Covid vaccine?

My intrigue into this topic was piqued by conflicting advice about abstaining from alcohol for varying periods of time when we get a vaccine. The initial claims were made by Anna Popova, head of Russian consumer health, who suggested that people who receive the Sputnik V vaccine should abstain from alcohol for 2 weeks before the jab and 3 weeks afterwards. After causing controversy in Russia, other experts spoke up about their opinions on the matter. The developer of the Sputnik V vaccine, Alexander Gintsburg, contradicted Popova when he tweeted to say that her claims were “fake news”, but he did suggest “refraining from alcohol for 3 days after each injection, which applies to all vaccines.”

This is news to me, having received vaccines to prevent a range of diseases: I have never been told to refrain from alcohol for a few days on either side of receiving the dose. It seems that this wasn’t a factor considered in some clinical vaccine trials either: According to the New Scientist during trials for the Oxford/Astra Zeneca vaccine, participants were not advised to refrain from drinking (but drinking addicts were not allowed to take part).

Whilst Russia seems to be the main country where alcohol intake has been questioned during vaccination, there have been recommendations from some UK based medical professionals too. Professor Cruickshank suggested that reducing intake for a couple of days on either side of the vaccine may be helpful to “have a good response to the vaccine”. Her comments seem to align with those of Gintsburg. However, Professor Klenerman was more cautious in his statement to the New Scientist saying, “What isn’t clear is whether just a small amount would have any significant effect in [real-life settings]. So it is plausible and you could simply be very cautious and say avoid it.”

Unfortunately, there are very limited studies on the effects of alcohol intake on vaccination effectiveness. A review into factors affecting vaccine efficacy suggested that although alcohol consumption didn’t affect the antibody response to some vaccinations, there is evidence suggesting that alcohol intake could negatively affect the body’s response to pneumococcus vaccination. Studies have shown that heavy drinking “impairs responses to vaccinations” but there is little known about the effect of moderate alcohol on vaccination effectiveness. Hence, more research needs to be done to explore this knowledge gap. As is the complicated nature of humans and vaccines, effectiveness could be influenced by a range of factors, including genetics, behaviours, and environment.

The impacts of alcohol use on the immune system and health

Due to the limits on our knowledge in relating alcohol intake with vaccination, it is advisable to peruse the literature on alcohols effects on the immune system.

When it comes to drinking we can classify people into three basic categories; chronic drinkers (heavy drinkers), moderate drinkers (casual drinkers), and abstainers (non-drinkers). There is clear evidence that heavy drinking puts users at an increased risk of liver-functioning problems. Chronic heavy drinking also weakens the immune system; reducing the number and effectiveness of immune cells. Studies also show links between heavy drinking and increased incidence of a plethora of diseases including pneumonia.

It is clear that heavy drinking is damaging to our health in many ways but what about moderate drinking? There is still much research to do, especially when comparing the effects of moderate drinking on the immune response. Some preliminary findings have suggested that moderate drinking can have a positive effect on the immune response in humans and animals. Hence there is a necessity for more research into the role that moderate drinking could play in immunity. Although moderate drinking is often celebrated, a study has urged caution on this approach, suggesting that abstinence is likely better, at least where mental wellbeing is concerned.

What are the science-backed ways for boosting your immune system?

There may be a knowledge gap in the effect of alcohol intake on vaccine effectiveness but there are a plethora of studies showing what we can do to help boost our immune system.

We can make several small habit changes to help out our immune system. A study at the University of Oxford showed that a fibre-rich diet can better equip specific immune cells to fight bacteria. This means eating more fruits, vegetables, potatoes, oats etc. It is also important to experience regular acute stress. Ending a shower with 30 seconds of cold water is a popular choice of acute stress and this has been shown to positively benefit our immune system. Chronic stress, on the other hand, is not healthy. Also, rather surprisingly, massage can have a positive impact on our immune system.

Common side effects of the vaccine include a sore arm, headache, tiredness, and mild fever. These side effects occur because your immune system is fighting the foreign, inactive virus. If you want to provide the optimal environment for the vaccine to do its work then you can make sure to stay hydrated and rest if you’re tired. Personally, I found that I was quite lethargic and my arm ached but both of those side effects improved within a couple of days. There is some suggestion that taking pain killers should be avoided if at all possible, but as with the debate about alcohol intake, there is limited evidence to suggest whether this will impact on the ultimate effectiveness of the vaccine.

Final thoughts

So should you drink alcohol around the time of vaccination? In all honesty, no one knows for sure but if you’d like to err on the side of caution then you could take a small break. If you decide to drink then do so responsibly because heavy drinking is not advisable for many reasons.

Before having the Pfizer vaccine I decided to avoid alcohol for 2 days before and 3 weeks afterwards and I am glad that I was cautious about this. If you didn’t abstain from drinking around the time that you were vaccinated then please don’t worry. There is some suggestion that moderate drinking may potentially have a positive effect on the immune system but this is yet to be studied.

It is always best to be informed before making a decision, so if you do decide to have the vaccine when it is offered to you then why not consider a small break from alcohol? Abstaining from alcohol can be a healthy challenge and in turn, you may be allowing your body more optimal conditions to build up a solid immune response against the vaccine.