The Covid vaccination campaign is in full swing in the world including India. More than 20 lakh people have received the first dose of Corona vaccine so far in the country and the government is preparing to accelerate this process in the coming days.
Right now, vaccination is the only possible way to protect yourself from this infectious virus but to increase the efficacy of the vaccine, you have to do more than just take the vaccine. According to a recent study, to increase the effectiveness of the vaccine, you must do two essential tasks before your vaccination.
These two things can make the vaccine more effective
If your immune system is not strong then the vaccine alone cannot protect you from the virus. It is important for our body to have a strong internal system to improve the response to the vaccine, otherwise, our body can easily be affected by conditions like depression and stress. Taking too much stress or staying depressed may possibly decrease immunity to the virus.
However, according to the findings of a recent study published in the journal ‘Perspectives’ on psychological science, sleep and exercise are two specific activities that can enhance the immune response.
Sleep and exercise
As vaccination campaigns against the coronavirus are expected to advance in the coming weeks, it is extremely important for people to prioritize their sleep to maintain their health. Researchers recommend that those planning to take the vaccine should get enough sleep at night and exercise at least 24 hours in advance. However, this is not the only study that has linked levels of sleep and physical activity with vaccination response.
Another study published in the International Journal of Behavioral Medicine found that flu vaccines are effective on people who get sufficient sleep for two nights before taking the vaccine. Something similar was also seen in the case of Hepatitis-A and Hepatitis-B vaccines.
How do sleep and exercise increase vaccine effectiveness?
According to the researchers, sleep deprivation can cause fluctuations in the immune processes required to produce antibodies. Therefore it is necessary to get sufficient amount of sleep to maintain the number of antibodies. On the other hand, being active before taking the vaccine means that exercising can also help support your immunity after taking the vaccine.
- Turn off your TV and other electronic devices at least 30 minutes before going to bed at night, as well as do not consume alcohol, caffeine-rich food or drinks and high amounts of food.
- Apart from this, do any kind of physical exercise for 30 minutes every day before and after getting the vaccine. Maintain this routine until a second dose of the vaccine, which is usually given a few weeks later.
It is believed that you have been vaccinated against Covid-19 only after receiving both doses.
