As Movendi International reported previously when COVID-19 vaccinations started rolling out, health professionals from several countries have expressed concern that alcohol interferes with COVID-19 vaccination and thus advised to refrain from alcohol consumption for a period before and after receiving the inoculation.
Alcohol is a known immuno-depressant. Therefore, avoiding alcohol is recommended to keep the immune system in the best shape possible to receive the vaccine. People who consume alcohol, and especially those who use heavily, face higher risks of weakening their immune system due to alcohol consumption. Avoiding alcohol helps to build the appropriate immunity to the coronavirus through the inoculation.
India was one of the first countries to issue advisory to people receiving the COVID-19 vaccine to refrain from any alcohol use till 45 days after being vaccinated.
Now Swedish doctors request that refraining from alcohol use when getting the COVID-19 vaccine should be included in recommendations to the public regarding COVID-19 vaccination.
Three doctors, Margareta Kristensson, Jonas Sjögreen and Sven Wåhlin, have written an Op-Ed in Sweden’s largest daily newspaper, Dagens Nyheter, explaining that alcohol will likely weaken the effect of the COVID-19 vaccine as well as the effect of treatments to cure the disease. Therefore, they call to include this in the advice issued to the Swedish public.
Lethal interaction between alcohol and COVID-19
The scientific report “Alcohol and the coronavirus pandemic: individual, societal and policy perspectives” published in January 2021 reveals important facts about the lethal interactions between COVID-19 and alcohol. One dimensions is how alcohol affects the human body and weakens the immune system, thus making people more susceptible to the virus and its more severe complications.
The negative effect of alcohol on the immune system is a clear indication that alcohol interferes with the efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccine. Citizens should be cautioned to refrain from using alcohol around the days of receiving the COVID-19 vaccination.
Alcohol affects the human body’s cells in several ways.
- The ACE receptors – which the coronavirus attaches to – increase with alcohol, making it easier for the virus to latch on to the body.
- Research evidence shows that alcohol weakens the immune system and makes people more susceptible to infections such as TB, and HIV. This happens because alcohol reduces the number of white blood cells and depresses their mobility and reactivity.
- Additionally, alcohol causes super-inflammation through release of cytokines.
- Alcohol also disrupts natural formation of antibodies against viruses in the human body.
Additionally, since alcohol disrupts the healing process of the human body’s tissues, the doctors say that going alcohol-free or reducing alcohol use will be beneficial for patients to heal from long-term COVID-19.