Many people, for some reason, hesitate or are unwilling to see a doctor with a variety of issues, including those that affect the compatibility of alcohol with vaccination against diphtheria, tetanus, rabies, or other infections that threaten a life-threatening person. Often the situation develops in such a way that the day of vaccination falls on the date that was set aside for a party or event. And then the vaccinated patient is faced with a difficult choice - to drink alcohol or not?
The most developed countries, in which medicine is becoming widely available and modern, have long since rid themselves of the horrific epidemics and pandemics that easily claimed tens of thousands of human lives. Feeling certain security and being in a society with an intense pace of life, the person starts to take the vaccination procedure more lightly. However, there are enough myths about the dangerous effects of alcohol on humans.
Meanwhile, alcohol has a detrimental and negative effect on the entire human body, it cannot cure a person of various diseases (of which some people are quite sure), especially those of an infectious nature.
Vaccine varieties
There is a complete list of vaccines that need to be given to an adult. In addition, vaccinations that were done in childhood, over time, cease to be effective, which will require revaccination.
- HPV. This vaccine should be given to girls aged 11 to 26 three times. Papillomaviruses can result in a cancerous tumor of the cervix.
- Hepatitis A or B. Different vaccines are used for injection. Hepatitis A is given to healthcare professionals and people with some problems with liver function, alcohol and drugs. Hepatitis B vaccination is important for those people who are not particularly picky about sex and regularly change partners.
- The flu. This vaccine should be given to young people and adults. In particular, it is necessary to vaccinate citizens who work in high-traffic public places (waiters, doctors, social fund workers, vendors).
- Encephalitis. This is a condition that threatens a person with mortal danger or disability. The most effective protection is provided by vaccination. The vaccine must be given before the person plans to travel to an area where the risk of infection is very high. Most of the time, vaccination takes place in two stages.
- Rage. This injection should be given to people at risk of infection. The patient receives six injections over three months.
- An injection against pathogens from tetanus, whooping cough or diphtheria. This vaccine is given once every ten years. If the woman is pregnant and more than a decade has passed since the previous vaccination, she will need to be vaccinated before the start of delivery (in the second or third trimester).
- Mumps, rubella or measles. In fact, this vaccination is done in childhood, but if one of the stages of vaccination has been missed and an adult has not had any of these diseases, the immunization must be carried out urgently.
- Chickenpox. If an adult suffers from this disease, then compared to a younger age, the disease course process is more difficult. Also, chickenpox in an adult can result in serious complications. Consequently, people who did not have chickenpox in childhood should be vaccinated. The disease can cause herpes zoster, so people over the age of 60 also need an injection of the vaccine.
Why you need to vaccinate an adult
Children's hospitals and educational institutions exercise strict control to ensure that the mandatory vaccination schedule is strictly observed. Many people mistakenly think that only children should be vaccinated. Due to the correct approach to this process and governmental assistance, it was possible to reduce to almost zero the probability of the development of infectious epidemics in countries where medicines are available to all and at a high level of development.
Most of the time, after some time, the effect of the vaccine stops, therefore, it will be necessary to carry out a revaccination so that the person is still protected from various infections. Considering that most adults are in the habit of relieving stress or fatigue with alcohol, vaccination can change the established way of life for some time.
The importance of vaccination and the advice given by your doctor must not be overlooked!
Self-medication and ignorance of medical requirements often lead to serious deterioration of well-being and health problems.
Why is it prohibited to drink alcohol after vaccination
The vaccination process affects the human body quite intensely, exerting strong stress on it. Immunity responds acutely to harmful agents entering the body, rapidly producing large amounts of antibodies. Thus, a strong and stable immune system is formed.
In order for the stage of immunity formation and its protective function to occur as calmly, painlessly and correctly as possible, it is important that the general state of human health is good. Preventive procedures aimed at preventing chronic diseases, a strong immune system help the body to safely overcome the first steps after vaccination.
Fact that!Even when alcohol is ingested in minute amounts, it has a depressing effect on a person's immune system and the performance of a person's internal systems and organs.
Although ethanol does not directly interact with the drugs contained in the vaccine, alcohol reduces the immune system's ability to exert a protective function and the production of antibodies becomes less effective. Therefore, drinking alcohol may reduce the effect of the vaccine provided. The immunity, in this case weakened, is not able to produce the necessary volume of antibodies, which can lead to side effects or even complete infection with the agent after vaccination.
What is the risk of drinking alcohol after vaccination
Now medicine is gradually moving away from using "live" viruses in the vaccination process. Anyway, even vaccines considered "non-live" can lead to some complications or side effects that can be quite unpleasant. According to statistics provided by WHO, the body of a healthy person reacts negatively to the vaccine in only 1% of cases.
This means that out of every hundred people who have been vaccinated, only one will have unwanted side effects from the vaccine. Alcohol consumption significantly increases the likelihood of illnesses associated with a weakened immune system during the course of the vaccine.
Among those who drink alcohol frequently, more than thirty percent may have concomitant illnesses after vaccination.
An excessively negative reaction may occur after drinking alcohol, if vaccination was carried out against the following diseases:
- measles;
- tick encephalitis;
- tetanus;
- hepatitis A;
- rage;
- diphtheria.
Most of the time, the following negative manifestations of the vaccine occur:
- diarrhea, gastrointestinal disturbances, vomiting;
- increase in body temperature;
- sore throat, pain and cough syndrome;
- 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 when the immune system adjusts to a foreign agent lasts from a few days to 2 weeks. During this time, patients may experience excessive sleepiness, poor appetite, excessive sweating, and weakness. At this stage, the "unknown" infection is recognized by the body. If ethanol enters the blood at the right time, it can reduce antibody production, which means that the virus strain will be blocked less efficiently than necessary. Furthermore, drinking alcohol after vaccination can have totally unpredictable consequences, which will lead not only to complications but also to actual infections.
It is very dangerous to drink alcohol after you have been vaccinated against hepatitis, rabies, measles and tetanus. Some diseases require vaccination, which is done in several steps, and the most important thing is to pay attention to how you feel on the first day of vaccination and for the next 2-3 days.
Vaccination against the rabies virus lasts three months, and during the established period it is absolutely forbidden to drink alcohol, even in minimal amounts.
Hepatitis vaccination is often combined with vaccination against the causative agent of diphtheria. In this case, immunity maintains its protective function for 10 years. Vaccination is carried out in several stages, which last about six months.
How long after vaccination can you drink alcohol?
In addition to the fact that alcohol can interfere with the proper functioning of the immune system, it is an excellent breeding ground for pathogens. Doctors loyal to the patient sometimes allow the patient to have a glass of good symbolic wine a few days after the vaccination.
But it should be borne in mind that if vaccination is carried out against the infections mentioned above, even a small dose of alcohol can lead to the urgent need for patient hospitalization and prolonged therapy. Anyone is responsible for your health. Alcoholic beverages are not a food item necessary to maintain vital functions, so abstinence for a while will only benefit the person, and the immune system will function more efficiently.
By following the doctor's recommendations, the patient will be able to prevent the occurrence of serious complications, and the vaccine will be as effective as possible.