Can you drink alcohol before receiving vaccine?

[salamanca2]

Does anyone know if it's safe to drink alcohol before getting your Covid jab?

DH is out at the pub with some mates and he's got his vaccine later today. I'm really worried!

When I got both of mine (Pfizer) in SE Asia the leaflet said avoid alcohol for 24 hours afterwards. Everyone had to sit for 30 minutes after vaccination then go to a discharge station and they told me there as well.

If it didn't say it in the invite then you don't need to worry.

Vaccines introduce your body to a safe version of the virus so it can learn the immune response safely.

If getting pissed stopped the virus getting hold then our economy wouldn't be fucked, pubs would be booming, and the govt would be recommending everyone to do their duty by drinking X units every day.

'The leaflet I got with my AZ said avoid alcohol if possible for up to two weeks to maximise immune response, but if you are an alcoholic, get the jab anyway.'

Really?

Everyone's bored.
We're a nation in a colder bit of Western Europe that is famed for being piss heads.
I would imagine addiction of various types is through the roof.
I know loads of people who drink every day.

They want people to get jabbed? That would not help.

I didn't get any leaflets.

I found myself at the back of a queue of about 100 people when I got there.

It moved fast.

Tent set up.

They were very professional.

Ushered out immediately.

Got in tube went home. Had the afternoon off work for it yay!

Different places different things.

'If getting pissed stopped the virus getting hold then our economy wouldn't be fucked, pubs would be booming, and the govt would be recommending everyone to do their duty by drinking X units every day.' Completely missing the point.

The leaflet I got with my AZ said avoid alcohol if possible for up to two weeks to maximise immune response, but if you are an alcoholic, get the jab anyway.

I had the AZ and the leaflet said nothing of the kind.

I had a jab at 2.20pm and a gin at 9.30pm. No negative effects here other than basic jab after effects.

@WeatherwaxOn

I had a jab at 2.20pm and a gin at 9.30pm. No negative effects here other than basic jab after effects.

Whilst that gin isn’t likely to have an impact on the efficacy, you can’t measure that. :-/

TomHardy - where most things say 'just add water', I function on 'just add gin'.

DISCLAIMER: Joke - I like gin, but can manage perfectly well with just caffeine.

Info online advises against it but if it was a genuine issue then it’d be advised officially. I don’t think the immune system needs any “help.”

Any update, OP?

@Canyouexplainhowthatis

Info online advises against it but if it was a genuine issue then it’d be advised officially. I don’t think the immune system needs any “help.”

You’ve clearly more faith in the govt than I have!

I don't think there are any immediate adverse effects from having alcohol shortly before or after the vaccine.

It is more a suspicion of some scientists that alcohol might impair the immune response that we want to see from the vaccine.

As I am very keen to be as immune as possible, I am happy to stay off the wine and gin etc for a while (had a jab on Saturday). But the most important thing is of course to get the jab!

@Canyouexplainhowthatis

Info online advises against it but if it was a genuine issue then it’d be advised officially. I don’t think the immune system needs any “help.”

But it might. I don't drink much, just a glass of wine 2 or 3 times a week and I didn't refrain after the first jab. I had zero antibodoes 6 weeks after my first jab (tested as part of research). I have auto immune disease so clearly not a healthy immmune system so I guess it's worth a try as it's not exactly a major inconvenience to skip the wine for a bit.

Alcohol slightly impairs the immune system. But then so does running a marathon or over training or eating shit for months..

It doesn’t mean the vaccine won’t work. Everyone’s immune systems are different anyway.
Avoiding alcohol for two weeks is excessive. Unless you don’t drink. But a few glasses see won’t really have much impact. Especially if you are healthy in other aspects.