Many people, for some reason, hesitate or do not want to consult a doctor with various questions, including one regarding the compatibility of alcohol with vaccination against diphtheria, tetanus, rabies or other infections that threaten a person with a life-threatening danger. . Often the situation develops in such a way that the day of vaccination coincides with the expected date for a party or event. And then the vaccinated patient is faced with a difficult choice: to take alcohol or not?
The more developed countries, where medicine is becoming widely available and modern, long ago got rid of the horrific epidemics and pandemics that easily claimed tens of thousands of lives. Feeling some confidence and being in a society with a busy pace of life, a person begins to take the vaccination procedure more lightly. However, there are quite a few myths about the dangerous effects of alcohol on humans.
Meanwhile, alcohol has a harmful and negative effect on the whole human body, it cannot cure a person from various diseases (of which some people are safe), especially those of an infectious nature.
Variety of vaccinations
There is a whole list of vaccines that must be given to an adult. Also, those vaccinations carried out in childhood, over time, cease to be effective, which will require revaccination.
- HPV. This vaccine should be given three times to girls between the ages of 11 and 26. Papillomavirus can cause a cancerous tumor of the cervix.
- Hepatitis A or B. Several vaccines are used for the injection. Hepatitis A is given to healthcare professionals and people who have problems with liver function, alcohol, and drugs. Vaccination against hepatitis B is important for those people who are not particularly demanding about sex and regularly change partners.
- Influence. This vaccine should be given to young people and adults. In particular, the vaccination of citizens who work in public places with high traffic (waiters, doctors, social fund operators, shop assistants) is required.
- Encephalitis. This is a pathology that threatens a person with mortal danger or disability. The most effective protection is provided by vaccination. The vaccine must be given before a person plans to travel to an area where the risk of infection is very high. Most often, vaccination requires two stages.
- Anger. 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, whooping cough or diphtheria. This vaccine is given once every ten years. If a woman is carrying a baby and it has been more than a decade since the previous vaccine, she will need to vaccinate before the start of delivery (in the second or third trimester).
- Mumps, rubella or measles. Indeed, this vaccination is carried out in childhood, but if one of the stages of vaccination has been missed and an adult has not suffered from any of these diseases, then immunization must be carried out urgently.
- Chickenpox. If an adult suffers from this disease, in comparison with a younger age, the process of the course of the disease is more difficult. Also, chickenpox in an adult can cause 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 also need to have a vaccine injection.
Why do you have to vaccinate an adult
Children's hospitals and educational institutions exercise strict supervision 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 to government assistance, it has been possible to reduce the probability of developing infectious epidemics to almost zero in countries where medicine is available to all and is at a high level of development.
Most often, after some time, the effect of the vaccine ends, so it will be necessary to carry out revaccination so that the person is still protected from various infections. Considering that large numbers 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 doctor's advice should not be taken lightly!
Self-medication and ignorance of medical requirements often turn into a serious deterioration in well-being, health problems.
Because it is forbidden to take alcohol after vaccination
The vaccination process affects the human body quite intensely, exerting severe stress on it. Immunity sharply responds to dangerous agents entering the body, rapidly producing large amounts of antibodies. Thus, a strong and stable immune system is formed.
In order for the phase of formation of immunity and its protective function to proceed 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 helps the body to safely pass the first stages after vaccination.
Done!Even when alcohol is consumed in minimal amounts, it has a depressing effect on the immune system and the performance of a person's internal systems and organs.
Despite the fact that ethanol does not interact directly with those 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 vaccine provided. Immunity, being weakened in this case, is unable to 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 using "live" viruses in the vaccination process. However, even those vaccines that are considered "non-living" can lead to some complications or side effects which can be quite unpleasant. According to 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 100 people who have been vaccinated, only one will experience unwanted side effects from the vaccine. Drinking alcohol significantly increases the likelihood of ailments associated with a weakened immune system during the action of the vaccine.
Among those who frequently drink alcohol, more than thirty percent may experience concomitant ailments after vaccination.
An excessively negative reaction can occur after drinking alcohol, if vaccination was carried out against the following diseases:
- measles;
- tick-borne encephalitis;
- tetanus;
- hepatitis A;
- anger;
- diphtheria.
Most often, the following concomitant negative manifestations of the vaccine occur:
- diarrhea, gastrointestinal disturbances, vomiting;
- increase in 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 in which the immune system adapts to a foreign agent lasts from a couple of days to 2 weeks. During this time, patients may experience excessive sleepiness, lack of appetite, excessive sweating, and weakness. At this stage, the body recognizes the "unfamiliar" infection. If ethanol enters the blood at the indicated time, this can reduce the production of antibodies, which means that the viral strain will be blocked less efficiently than necessary. In addition, drinking alcohol after vaccination can turn into completely unpredictable consequences, which will lead not only to complications, but also to real infections.
It is very dangerous to drink alcohol after being vaccinated against hepatitis, rabies, measles and tetanus. Some diseases require vaccination, which is done in several stages, and it is very important to pay attention to how you feel on the first day of the 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 take alcohol, even in minimal quantities.
Often, vaccination against hepatitis is combined with vaccination against the causative agent of diphtheria. In this case, immunity retains its protective function for 10 years. Vaccination is carried out in several stages, which take 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 him to drink a symbolic glass of fine wine a few days after the vaccination.
But it should be borne in mind that if vaccination against the aforementioned infections is carried out, even a small dose of alcohol can lead to an urgent need for hospitalization of the patient and prolonged therapy. Each person himself is responsible for his own health. Alcoholic beverages are not a necessary food product to maintain vital functions, so abstinence for some time will only benefit a 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.