Can you drink alcohol after having the Covid vaccine?

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Covid vaccinations have now offered protection to nearly three million people across the UK. Ministers, who received rollout approval for the American-made Pfizer jab before any other country, have pushed uptake rates in the first month of the year, with two new vaccines now ready to go. But as more people get the jab, the more questions people will have about it.

Can you drink alcohol after having the Covid vaccine?

The AstraZeneca vaccine contains a “very small” amount of alcohol in its ingredient list, not enough to cause any “noticeable effects”, according to Government guidance.

But drinking alcohol while receiving the Covid vaccine could prove problematic, according to research.

Russian scientists Alexander Gintsburg, head of the Moscow-based Gamaleya National Center of Epidemiology and Microbiology, said people should refrain from alcohol after each injection.

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He told New Scientists: “We strongly recommend refraining from alcohol for three days after each injection.”

Mr Gintsburg’s organisation crafted the Russian Sputnik V vaccine, but his advice applies across the board.

Scientists have long established that alcohol blunts immune system responses, and is known as an immunosuppressant.

Generally, the effects are more noticeable in those who drink excessively.

But even moderate consumption can have an impact on immune defence.

Swedish researchers found in 2012 that low-to-moderate amounts of alcohol suppressed immune response to a bacterial pneumonia vaccine.

Mr Gintsburg said people wouldn’t need to avoid drinking altogether if they are expecting a vaccine imminently.

Roughly 120 grams – the equivalent of 300 grams of vodka – is the supper-limit of immune system tolerance.

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The researcher told New Scientist while the measure – equivalent of 12 UK measures – could impact immune response, a lesser amount would not.

People can still have a glass of less potent alcohol such as champagne during their dose regimen.

Mr Gintsburg added people should commit to a “reasonable limitation” until the vaccine has worked.

He said: “Of course, we are not talking about a complete ban on alcohol during vaccination.”

“This is just a reasonable limitation of consumption until the body has formed its own immune response to coronavirus infection.

“It is important to understand that excessive alcohol consumption can significantly reduce immunity and therefore reduce the effectiveness of vaccination or even make it meaningless.

“Moreover, this is true not only for Sputnik V, but also for any other vaccine.”

The Covid vaccine takes roughly two weeks for full immunity to kick in.

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