The rollout of Covid-19 vaccines is well under way, and now is the time for each of us to plan for our turn.
A recent review of research suggests that we should take steps to make sure we are in good health, both physically and emotionally, before receiving the vaccine, in order to enjoy maximum benefit.
Researchers at Ohio State University in the US reviewed 49 vaccine studies in humans, dating back 30 years, that document how stress, depression, and poor health behaviours can negatively affect the body's immune response to vaccination, and how improving health factors can enhance that response.
The impaired immune responses observed in these studies tended to fall into three categories - interference with the development of antibodies against the pathogen, more rapid erosion of antibody protection that does develop, or intensification of vaccination's side effects.
And according to the researchers, the stress of the pandemic, which has resulted in disrupted routines, lack of social interaction, and ongoing uncertainly, is acting as a barrier to healthy habits and behaviours. Worldwide data over the past year has pointed to higher rates of depression, anxiety, and insomnia during lockdown, increased alcohol sales and overeating, and fewer average step counts recorded by Fitbits.
It's not all bad news, however. The power to make improvements in our own health habits, and give ourselves the best chance of deriving maximum benefit from the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine, is within our control. And the prospect of receiving a vaccine could be just the right incentive to take action.
Managing stress through exercise and mindfulness meditation, getting enough sleep, quitting or curbing tobacco use, and improving our diets, even in the short term, around the time of vaccination, could influence how our bodies respond, the evidence suggests.
Mental health also plays an important role, and for those struggling with depression, now would be a good time to seek professional help.
"When we think of vaccine efficacy, we often think of the vaccine itself," said Annelise Madison, first author of the paper. "My motivation was to draw attention to the fact that we bring important factors to the table as well - and those factors are modifiable. If we can address them now, when most of the world has yet to receive the vaccine, we have the chance to make our response to the vaccine quicker, more robust and lasting."
The studies in this review investigated the effects of psychological factors and behaviors on the immune response to a range of vaccine types, such as influenza, hepatitis B, typhoid, and pneumonia. Because many findings have been consistent across responses to different vaccines, the team considered them likely to be relevant to the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine.
A number of the studies reviews demonstrated that stress, known to hamper immune response, affected the efficacy of vaccines.
According to previous research, a range of interventions could help us all get the most out of the Covid-19 vaccine; massage and expressive writing for stress management, short- and long-term physical activity, including 25 minutes of arm exercises before injection, and nutritional supplementation all helped increase antibody response or reduce side effects in past studies.
