There is very questions about what to do and not to do before and after being vaccinated for COVID-19 – and some of the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) guidelines may be surprising. For example, the agency recommends avoiding OTC medications, such as ibuprofen and Tylenol, in anticipation of the side effects of vaccines before taking them, but says it is good to take them within reason after receiving your dose.
Why? It has to do with the major antibodies and how certain substances can spoil with the development of a strong immune response. It is understandable that many people have wondered if it is safe to drink alcohol after vaccination, as some research shows that alcohol can affect the immune system when consumed. excessive (think: a night of binging).
The CDC does provide guidelines to people who have just been vaccinated, but it focuses more on the possible side effects, information on ingredients and what we know about COVID-19 immunity – no drink mentioned.
So, what’s the matter? Can you grab that glass of wine to celebrate your step to immunity – or is it better to wait? We asked doctors for infectious diseases to set the record.
First, a refresher: how do the available COVID-19 vaccines work?
Currently, only Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna’s respective COVID-19 vaccines have been approved for emergency use in the US, but there are others in the works, particularly from Johnson & Johnson and AstraZeneca.
The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines use messenger RNA (mRNA) technology to elicit an immune response in the body. This technology does not inject live or inactive viruses into your body, but rather encodes a piece of genetic material from the new coronavirus’ peak protein (the portion of the virus that attaches to human cells), according to the CDC. The mRNA then serves as a set of instructions for your cells so that they can also begin to develop proteins.
As a result, your body considers the proteins as invaders (although there is no threat), you start pumping out antibodies that can uniquely fight the coronavirus. Your body continues to eliminate the proteins and the mRNA, but the antibodies stick (it is unclear how long, as research is underway). If you become infected in the future, your body will be better prepared to ward off COVID-19.
So can you drink alcohol after getting the COVID-19 vaccine?
There is no official government recommendation on this, but the experts we spoke to say it is not really something to worry about. Research on the Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines did not require participants in the trial to avoid alcohol, and their findings do not mention that people experience problems after drinking.
“There is no evidence that alcohol reduces the formation of antibodies,” says Richard Watkins, MD, a doctor of infectious diseases and a professor of internal medicine at Northeast Ohio Medical.
However, he recommends looking at your alcohol intake in the days after you have been vaccinated for another reason. Some people may experience flu-like side effects, such as fever, chills, fatigue and headaches, and ‘being intoxicated or gut-wrenching will make things less pleasant,’ he says.
It’s also important to keep in mind when reporting your vaccinations side effects, says Infectious Diseases Expert Amesh A. Adalja, MD, senior scientist at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Safety.
He explains that the CDC encourages vaccinated people to sign up for the V-Safe After Vaccination Health Checker, and it is possible for someone to confuse hangover symptoms with vaccine side effects.
So if you want to celebrate your vaccine with a drink (preferably at home!), Just keep it within the recommended daily guidelines: two drinks for men and one for women. Cheers!
This article is accurate from press time. As the COVID-19 pandemic develops rapidly and the scientific community’s understanding of the new coronavirus develops, some of the information may have changed since it was last updated. As we strive to keep all our stories up to date, please visit the online resources provided by the CDC, WHO, and yours local department of public health to stay up to date with the latest news. Always talk to your doctor for professional medical advice.
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