Many people, for whatever reason, hesitate or do not want to consult a doctor with several questions, including one that affects the compatibility of alcohol with vaccination against diphtheria, tetanus, rabies or other infections that threaten a person with danger of death. Often the situation develops in such a way that the day of vaccination coincides with the date reserved for a party or event. And then the vaccinated patient is faced with a difficult decision: to drink alcohol or not?
The more developed countries, where medicine is becoming widely available and modern, have long since rid themselves of horrible epidemics and pandemics that easily claimed tens of thousands of human lives. Feeling certain security and being in a society with an intensive pace of life, a person begins 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 sure), especially those that are infectious in nature.
Varieties of vaccines.
There is a complete list of vaccines that should be administered to an adult. Likewise, those vaccinations that were made in childhood, over time, cease to be effective, which will require a revaccination.
- HPV. This vaccine is required to be given to girls ages 11 to 26 three times. Papillomavirus can lead to a cancerous tumor of the cervix.
- Hepatitis A or B. Different injectable vaccines are used. Hepatitis A is given to healthcare professionals and people who have some problems with liver function, alcohol, and drugs. Hepatitis B vaccination is important for those who are not particularly demanding about sex and who change partners regularly.
- Flu. This vaccine should be given to young people and adults. In particular, it is required to vaccinate citizens who work in public places with high traffic (waiters, doctors, social fund workers, vendors).
- Encephalitis. This is a pathology that threatens a person with danger of death or disability. The most effective protection is provided by vaccination. The vaccine must be administered before a person plans to travel to an area where the risk of infection is very high. Most often, vaccination has two stages.
- Rage. This injection should be given to people at risk of infection. The patient receives six injections over the course of three months.
- An injection against the pathogens of tetanus, pertussis, or diphtheria. This vaccine is given once every ten years. If a woman is pregnant and more than a decade has passed since the previous vaccination, it will be necessary to vaccinate before the start of labor (in the second or third trimester).
- Mumps, rubella, or measles. In fact, this vaccine is carried out in childhood, but if one of the stages of vaccination was missed and an adult did not suffer from any of these diseases, then immunization should be carried out urgently.
- Chickenpox. If an adult suffers from this disease, compared to a younger age, the process of the course of the disease is more difficult. Also, chickenpox in an adult can lead to serious complications. Consequently, people who did not have chickenpox in childhood should be vaccinated. The disease can lead to shingles, and therefore people over the age of 60 should also receive an injection of the vaccine.
Why it is necessary to vaccinate an adult
Children's hospitals and educational institutions exercise strict control to ensure that the mandatory vaccination schedule is strictly adhered to. Many people have the misconception that only children should be vaccinated. Thanks to the correct approach to this process and the assistance of the government, it was possible to reduce to almost zero the probability of developing infectious epidemics in countries where medicine is available to all and is at a high level of development.
Most of the time, after a while, the effect of the vaccine ends, therefore, it will be necessary to carry out a revaccination so that the person is still protected from various infections. Considering that a large number of adults have a 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 should not be taken lightly!
Self-medication and ignoring medical requirements often lead to serious deterioration in well-being and health problems.
Why is it forbidden to drink alcohol after vaccination?
The vaccination process affects the human body quite intensely, putting severe stress on it. Immunity responds acutely to dangerous agents that enter the body and rapidly produce 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 develop 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 safely overcome the first stages after vaccination.
Done!Even when alcohol is taken in trace amounts, it has a depressing effect on the immune system and the functioning of a person's internal systems and organs.
Although ethanol does not interact directly with the drugs contained in the vaccine, alcohol reduces the ability of the immune system to perform a protective function and the production of antibodies becomes less effective. Therefore, drinking alcohol can reduce the effect of the given vaccine. Immunity, in this case weakened, cannot produce the required 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 the use of "live" viruses in the vaccination process. Either way, even vaccines that are considered "non-live" can cause some complications or side effects that can be quite unpleasant. According to the statistics provided by the WHO, the body of a healthy person reacts negatively to the vaccine in only 1% of all cases.
This means that out of every 100 people who have been vaccinated, only one will experience unwanted side effects from the vaccine. Drinking alcohol significantly increases the likelihood of suffering from ailments associated with a weakened immune system during the action of the vaccine.
Among those who drink alcohol frequently, more than thirty percent may experience concomitant ailments after vaccination.
An overly negative reaction can occur after drinking alcohol, if the vaccine was carried out against the following diseases:
- measles;
- tick encephalitis;
- tetanus;
- Hepatitis A;
- Rage;
- diphtheria.
Most often, the following concomitant negative manifestations of the vaccine occur:
- diarrhea, gastrointestinal disorders, vomiting;
- increased body temperature;
- sore throat, cough and pain syndrome;
- swelling at the injection site;
- increase or decrease in blood pressure, arrhythmic manifestations;
- a flu-like condition;
- loss of consciousness and dizziness;
- labored breathing;
- pain in the musculoskeletal system.
At the same time, the process in which the immune system adapts to a foreign agent lasts from a couple of days to two weeks. During this time, patients may experience excessive sleepiness, poor appetite, excessive sweating, and weakness. At this stage, the body recognizes the "unknown" infection. If ethanol enters the blood at the right time, this can reduce antibody production, which means that the virus strain will be blocked less efficiently than required. Also, drinking alcohol after vaccination can have completely unpredictable consequences, which will lead not only to complications, but also to a real infection.
It is more 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 it is very important to pay attention to how you feel on the first day of vaccination and the next 2-3 days.
Vaccination against the rabies virus lasts for three months, and during the established period it is absolutely forbidden to drink alcohol, even in minute quantities.
Vaccination against hepatitis is often combined with vaccination against the causative agent of diphtheria. 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?
Besides 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 him to have a token glass of fine wine a few days after vaccination.
But it must be borne in mind that if vaccination is carried out against the aforementioned infections, even a small dose of alcohol can lead to the urgent need to hospitalize the patient and to prolonged therapy. Everyone is responsible for their own health. Alcoholic beverages are not a necessary food product to maintain vital functions, so abstinence for some time will only result in benefits for one person and the immune system will function more efficiently.
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.