As our grandparents, parents, & friends get vaccinated, I thought I’d just relay info on getting the most out of your vaccination, as simple behaviour changes may support how well & how quickly your body responds to vaccination:

Exercising, low stress levels, good sleep, low alcohol intake, good social connection

Nothing surprising there, & much of it hard to achieve in lockdown. But self-care, an active lifestyle, zoom calls w/ loved ones, no doomscrolling, hugs, etc all may help your immune response.

Exercise is where the data is clearest. Especially for the over 50’s.

Ie one study revealed that those with an active lifestyle who are over the age of 62 have higher antibody responses to flu vaccinations than those who are sedentary.

Even as much as walking to get your shot may help boost its effectiveness:

One study showed that women who used an exercise machine in the 45 minutes before a flu vaccination had a higher antibody response a month later than those who did no exercise.

Just some stuff to have at the back of the mind for those getting vaccinated. Support your immune system, support your body.

(All info from this week's New Scientist)