Is it Okay to Drink Alcohol after Covid Vaccine?

Is it okay to drink after Covid Vaccine? – We, the citizens of the world, have survived an entire year of the Covid-19 pandemic. We have endured trials and tribulations and waited for that miracle that can bring us salvation from the deadly virus. Now, it is finally here. The Covid 19 vaccine is now available in various countries. But does salvation come with repercussions?

Does taking the vaccine to mean that we have to give up on other things that form a part of our lifestyle? One of the most often asked questions in this regard has been “Is it okay to drink after Covid Vaccine?” How deeply do the implications of taking the vaccine affect us? Before delving into the depths of that question, let us trace the events and happenings right from the beginning of the pandemic.

The Covid 19 pandemic- An Overview

Pandemics are considered deadly because of one of their most distinct characteristics- the ability to spread and infect huge masses of people in an unimaginably short span of time. The same can be said with regard to the Covid 19 pandemic.

Towards the end of January, the World got to know that something called the Coronavirus (though it was not named before mid-February) has taken root in an illegal black market in the Wuhan province of China. Little did we expect that those few infections would take the shape of a worldwide pandemic and lock us in our homes for the better part of a year. What started as a precautionary measure for a few weeks ended up evolving into a worldwide lockdown for more than six months.

As the death rates started scaling the heights rapidly, first in China and then in other parts of the world, there were severe implications, not only on health but also in the socio-economic and political situation. Travel restrictions were imposed in almost all countries exposed to the virus, International travel had been shut down completely for an extended period of time. It exposed the ugly face of the pandemic- family members stranded, miles away from each other, for work or travel, unable to return.

Even while the virus was ravaging the entire world, and the Covid warriors were giving their best at the frontlines, we have the modern medical technology to thank. Scientists and medical experts have been coming up with new innovations throughout the year 2021 to protect the world from the clutches of the deadly virus. All the efforts finally culminated in the development of various Covid 19 vaccines all over the world.

The Covid-19 vaccines

When the Covid-19 virus was suddenly sprung upon us in the early months of 2020, we were all caught unawares. The only remedies available were lockdown, containment, travel restrictions, and usage of masks and sanitizers. However, scientists, doctors, and medical experts all over the world have been at work all day and night to seek remedies. The level of efficiency was such that the earliest Covid 19 vaccines were released in 2020 itself. As the vaccines started circulating, one of the most sought answers was to the question “Is it okay to drink after Covid Vaccine?” Let us delve into the question after learning a bit about the existing Covid 19 vaccines available in the market or under trial.

Types of Covid 19 vaccine

1. mRNA vaccine: These vaccines bring an innovative and new approach to vaccination. Traditionally, vaccines introduce a weakened or dead germ in an individual’s body to trigger an immune response. However, mRNA vaccines teach the cells to react to a protein, so that they can be prepared for an immune response when an actual virus enters the body. Since they make use of a spike protein to generate the immune response, they cannot affect someone with Covid news. They also do not change or affect your DNA in any way.
2. Viral vector vaccines: These vaccines release a vector virus, that is not the Covid 19 virus but a separate virus that will then generate a spike protein to trigger an immune response. These vaccines also do not infect a person with Covid 19 or affect their DNA in any way.

The Very First Covid-19 Vaccine

Sputnik V.: It was the very first Covid-19 vaccine in the world released by Russia as early as August 2020. However, there were certain concerns regarding this vaccine because it was authorized without the third phase trials.

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Vaccines Authorized in the U.S.

1. Pfizer-Biotech: It is an mRNA vaccine. It should only be taken by individuals above 16 years of age and by people who do not have any allergic reaction to any of the ingredients in the vaccine. It will afflict you with side effects for a few days but then they will be cured. There are two shots to be taken, 21 days apart.
2. Moderna: It is again an mRNA vaccine that can be taken by individuals above 18 years of age and the precautions and side effects are almost identical to Pfizer-Biotech. There are two shots to be taken, 28 days apart.
3. Johnson & Johnson/ Jannsen: It is a viral vector vaccine that can only be taken by individuals above 18 years of age. Just one is to be given to each other and the side effects include headache, nausea, swelling in the arm, etc which usually subsides after a few days.

Vaccines like AstraZeneca and Novavax are still in the phase 3 trial stage.

Now, coming to the question: Is it safe to drink after Covid Vaccine?

No concrete evidence has been received yet to answer this question either in the affirmative or in the negative. However, doctors and medical experts have a few suggestions in this regard borrowing from previous experience.

Consuming alcohol too quickly after taking a vaccine has been known to interfere with the work of the vaccine. So, it is recommended that you wait at least 45 days after taking a Covid Vaccine to resume consuming alcohol.

To date, individuals who have taken Covid Vaccine and consumed alcohol after that following the above advice have not been known to have come to any harm. Thus, it is safe to drink after Covid Vaccine but wait for a minimum of 45 days to be completely assured.

Conclusion

It has been possible to get the Covid 19 vaccines only after months of sincere efforts and experimentation. Thus, we should ensure that we can get optimum benefits from the vaccines and should not do anything to jeopardize its good effects. Thus, it is advisable to wait for a period of 46 days after taking the Covid Vaccine before resuming consumption of alcohol.