Alcohol and the vaccine

[Pissedoff1234]

I'm due to have the vaccine tomorrow in the late afternoon.

Over the past few weeks I've taken to having a baileys hot chocolate on an evening. Before Xmas and for years before this Ive hardly drank anything but this has become a regular every night thing mainly to help me sleep as I've become a bit of an insomniac which I've never had problems with before.

It didn't cross my mind until I thought about it halfway through my drink that maybe I shouldn't be drinking it due to having the jab tomorrow.

I have read a few articles saying should be ok and others saying to stop for a few days. Anyone have any experience/knowledge of if this will stop it working / cause more side effects.

I have read that it’s best not to have alcohol 2 days before and after vaccine. I think it’s just to help the body take in the vaccine so it can start building up immunity straight away. There’s no evidence it stops vaccine working or that drink mixed with vaccine gives you side effects.

If this was an actual proper thing to worry about, don’t you think people would be being told about it when they were invited to be vaccinated? They’ve done a fair few million people so far.

I’d be more concerned about relying on alcohol to get to sleep every day.

I don't rely on alcohol. To be fair it doesn't really make me sleep any better anyway. It's a hot chocolate with cream and marshmallows with a tot of baileys in it, not a bottle of wine.

I haven't drank for years because any more than 2 drinks make me feel sick so I don't bother at all and am always the driver. Good old Mumsnet to try and push a complete non issue which wasn't the reason I posted.

I won't be drinking for 2 weeks now just in case.

Honestly, you will be absolutely fine. You’re not planning on getting paralytic and vomiting your guts up immediately after the vaccine (and even if you were...I can’t see how it would affect it!)

Have your damn baileys hot chocolate and enjoy it.

I really wouldn't worry about it, it'll make a negligible difference, theres no advice re alcohol given at the appointment, you might not fancy drinking for 24 hrs after anyway (I didn't) but otherwise just carry on as usual.

Why can't you have the hot chocolate without the Baileys? Seems a bit much having one every night.
You'll be fine with the vaccine By the way

Why can’t you have the Baileys without the hot chocolate?

When my in laws had their vaccine we had a prosecco zoom that evening to celebrate!
With all the crap going on, enjoy your baileys delight, sounds like a nice treat!

Have it and enjoy! I looked at the evidence after mine and decided to have two beers. There is very little to enjoy right now, I think and nicely laced hot choc sounds delicious

The question wasn't an invitation for you to pass judgment on whether you think a baileys a night is something to worry about. It was linked specifically to the vaccine.

You’ve had a small amount of alcohol today. It will be out of your system by the time you get your jab.
They do suggest avoiding alcohol after the vaccine and in your shoes I’d do that going forward because it’s just one less thing to worry about. I’d ha e the hot chocolate without it. Isn’t baileys just alcohol, cream and coffee so you could put a pinch of coffee in your hot chocolate and a bit more cream stirred though?

^They do suggest avoiding alcohol after the vaccine and in your shoes I’d do that going forward because it’s just one less thing to worry about. I’d ha e the hot chocolate without it.*

Who is “they”? The nhs? Is it in the post vaccine leaflet?

www.newscientist.com/article/2262654-should-you-avoid-alcohol-when-getting-a-coronavirus-vaccine/

I think it came about after a BBC documentary on how to boost your immune system and blood tests post alcohol drinks, were seen to be affected.
Not exactly a double-blind trial.

There have been threads in this before, general consensus is NHS does not want to put public off accepting the vaccine but alcohol reduces the efficacy of vaccines in general and it’s advisable (not compulsory, but prudent) to avoid it when receiving the vaccine.

Professor Cruickshank, Manchester University.

Thanks to the sensible posters who replied to my actual question. DH actually laughed at the presumption that I was dependant on alcohol and could not do without it.

I've been pretty much tee total for about 15 years for no other reason that it makes me feel ill if I have more than 2 drinks, I'm not fussed on the taste of lots of alcohol such as wine and beer and I can have a good time without it. I am the source of many jokes from friends about being the sensible one.

I will be having the hot chocolate without the baileys for a bit after my vaccine. Not sure if I'll manage the cold turkey though 🙄.

@UmbilicusProfundus

Why can’t you have the Baileys without the hot chocolate?

I absolutely can have the hot chocolate without the baileys and will do this from now on. I was just worried that I hadn't thought about drinking it with the baileys the night before the vaccine. If I had of known I would have done this days ago.

Well, there's nothing to be done about it now, just refrain for a couple of weeks to give it the best chance. I don't know how important this, I honestly think the reason it isn't better publicised is that the UK has a raging alcohol problem as a collective and it would put a good percentage of people off getting it. I say that objectively because I used to binge drink. Its only once you go sober (which of course everyone needs to do) you realize how much of feature alcohol is in daily life.

Sorry - should say not everyone needs to do! Just a significant minority of us!

I am a vaccinator in a covid mass vaccination site , you can have alcohol , there is no NHS guidelines saying that you can't.

@Pissedoff1234 I was making a joke if you read my comment carefully.

This thread has me worried now. I am someone who drinks within (or just up to) the so called safe weekly limits. Hadn't drunk since Sunday but fancied wine last night 2 small glasses as my 1st vaccine is this pm and reckoned I would then be abstaining for a bit. Now realize should have abstained last night too so concerned I have harmed my chances of the vaccine working as well as possible for me. Really think the advice should be clearer. Love the idea of that Baileys Hot Choc..reminds me of the Baileys Choc cheesecake I've made a couple of times.

I got called unexpectedly for my jab so no time to take back the couple of definately pub measure wines I had the night before. All OK

Baileys in a hot chocolate if you please.

By the laws of mumsnet you are an alcoholic.

The amount of actual proper alcoholics I've worked with over the years who have had to have all sorts of vaccines (mostly tetanus after cuts or bites), I'm sure you'll be perfectly fine.