Many people, for some reason, are reluctant or unwilling to consult a doctor with a variety of questions, including whether alcohol affects their compatibility with the vaccine against diphtheria, tetanus, rabies, or other life-threatening infections. Often the situation develops in such a way that the day for vaccination falls on a date set aside for a party or event. And then the vaccinated patient is faced with a difficult choice - to take alcohol or not?
The most developed countries, where medicine is widespread and modernized, have long escaped terrible epidemics and pandemics that have claimed the lives of tens of thousands of people. A person in a society that feels a certain level of security and has an intensive pace of life begins to take the vaccination procedure more lightly. However, there are many myths about the harmful effects of alcohol on humans.
Meanwhile, alcohol has a harmful and negative effect on the whole human body, it can not cure a person from various diseases (some are convinced of this), especially infectious diseases.
Types of vaccines
There is a complete list of vaccines that should be given to adults. Also, childhood vaccines stop working over time, which requires re-vaccination.
- HPV. Girls between the ages of 11 and 26 are required to be vaccinated three times. Papillomavirus can result in cancer of the cervix.
- Hepatitis A or B. Various vaccines are used for injection. Hepatitis A is given to health workers and people with liver problems, some problems with alcohol and drugs. Hepatitis B vaccination is especially important for people who are not sexually selective and change their partners regularly.
- Flu. This vaccine should be given to young people and adults. In particular, citizens working in crowded public places (waiters, doctors, social workers, vendors) are required to be vaccinated.
- Encephalitis. It is a pathology that threatens a person with death or disability. The most effective protection is provided by the vaccine. The vaccine should be given before a person plans to travel to an area at high risk of infection. Vaccination often goes through two stages.
- Rabies. Such an injection should be given to people at risk of infection. The patient receives six injections in three months.
- Injection against tetanus, pertussis or diphtheria pathogens. This vaccine is given once every ten years. If a woman is pregnant and has been vaccinated for more than ten years, she should be vaccinated before giving birth (in the second or third trimester).
- Mumps, rubella or measles. In fact, the vaccine is given in childhood, but if one of the stages of the vaccine is missed and an adult does not suffer from any of these diseases, the vaccine should be given immediately.
- Chickenpox, chickenpox. If an adult suffers from this disease, the course of the disease is more difficult than at a younger age. In addition, chickenpox in adults can lead to serious complications. Therefore, people who do not have chickenpox in childhood should be vaccinated. The disease can lead to shingles, so people over the age of 60 should also be vaccinated.
Why should you get an adult vaccinated
Strict adherence to the mandatory vaccination schedule is strictly monitored in children's hospitals and educational institutions. Many people have the misconception that only children should be vaccinated. Thanks to the right approach to this process and state support, it has been possible to reduce the probability of infectious epidemics to almost zero in countries where medicine is accessible to everyone and in highly developed countries.
Often, the effect of the vaccine ends after a while, so the person still needs to be revaccinated to protect against various infections. Given that many adults have a habit of relieving stress or fatigue with alcohol, the vaccine may change the established lifestyle for a period of time.
The importance of vaccination and the advice of your doctor should not be ignored!
Self-medication and neglect of medical requirements often lead to serious deterioration of well-being and health problems.
Why is it forbidden to drink alcohol after vaccination?
The process of vaccination has a fairly intense effect on the human body, giving it a strong stress. The immune system reacts sharply to dangerous agents entering the body, rapidly producing large amounts of antibodies. Thus, a strong and stable immune system is formed.
It is important that the general state of human health is good so that the phase of immunity formation and its protective function continues as calmly, painlessly and properly as possible. Prophylactic procedures aimed at preventing chronic diseases, a strong immune system helps to safely eliminate the first stages of the body after vaccination.
Fact!Even with minimal intake, alcohol has a depressing effect on the human immune system and the functioning of internal systems and organs.
Although ethanol does not interact directly with the drugs in the vaccine, alcohol reduces the immune system's ability to perform its protective function, and the production of antibodies is less effective. Therefore, alcohol intake may reduce the effectiveness of the vaccine. In this case, the weakened immune system is unable to produce the required amount of antibodies, which can lead to side effects or complete infection with the agent after vaccination.
What is the risk of drinking alcohol after vaccination?
Now medicine is gradually moving away from the use of "live" viruses in the vaccination process. In any case, even vaccines that are considered "lifeless" can cause some complications or side effects that can be very unpleasant. According to statistics provided by the WHO, the body of a healthy person reacts negatively to vaccines in only 1% of all cases.
This means that only one in a hundred people who will be vaccinated will experience the undesirable side effects of the vaccine. Drinking alcohol significantly increases the risk of diseases associated with a weakened immune system during exposure to the vaccine.
More than 30 percent of those who drink alcohol often suffer from post-vaccination diseases.
If the vaccine is given against the following diseases, an extreme adverse reaction may occur after drinking alcohol:
- measles;
- tick-borne encephalitis;
- tetanus;
- hepatitis A;
- rabies;
- diphtheria.
The following side effects of the vaccine often occur:
- diarrhea, gastrointestinal disorders, vomiting;
- increased body temperature;
- sore throat, pain syndrome and cough;
- swelling at the injection site;
- increase or decrease in blood pressure, arrhythmic manifestations;
- a flu-like condition;
- loss of consciousness and dizziness;
- difficulty breathing;
- pain in the musculoskeletal system.
At the same time, the process of adaptation of the immune system to an external agent lasts from a few days to 2 weeks. During this period, patients may experience excessive drowsiness, anorexia, excessive sweating, and weakness. At this stage, the "unrecognized" infection is recognized by the body. If ethanol enters the blood at the specified time, it can reduce the production of antibodies, which means that the virus strain will be blocked less effectively than required. Also, drinking alcohol after vaccination can have completely unexpected consequences, which can lead not only to complications, but also to a real infection.
It is most dangerous to drink alcohol after being vaccinated against hepatitis, rabies, measles and tetanus. Some illnesses require several stages of vaccination, and it is important to pay attention to how you feel on the first day of vaccination and the next 2-3 days.
Vaccination against rabies virus lasts for three months, and even a minimal amount of alcohol is strictly prohibited for a specified period of time.
The hepatitis vaccine is often combined with the diphtheria vaccine. In this case, the immunity retains its protective function for 10 years. Vaccination is carried out in several stages lasting about six months.
How long after vaccination can you drink alcohol?
In addition to preventing the proper functioning of the immune system, alcohol is an excellent breeding ground for pathogens. Doctors loyal to the patient sometimes allow him to receive a symbolic glass of good wine a few days after vaccination.
However, it should be borne in mind that even small doses of alcohol can lead to emergency hospitalization and long-term therapy if vaccinated against the above infections. Everyone is responsible for their own health. Alcohol is not a food that is necessary to maintain vital functions, so abstaining from it for a while will only benefit the person and the immune system will work more efficiently.
By following the doctor's advice, the patient will be able to prevent serious complications and the vaccine will be as effective as possible.