The Ministry of Health of Russia recommends avoiding excessive physical activity for 3 days after vaccination against COVID-19. However, studies have shown that the stressor applied after vaccination increases the production of antibodies. Sports can be such a stressor.
Previous research has shown that exercise shortly before vaccination can boost antibody production. A possible reason is that in response to exercise, the muscles produce the cytokine IL-6, which stimulates the immune response. It confirms the fact that the introduction of IL-6 during the flu vaccination increases the production of IgG.
American scientists investigated how sport affects the production of antibodies after vaccination. As a stressor, scientists used aerobic exercise – training on a bicycle ergometer, walking or jogging at a 60-70% heart rate of the maximum (max. HR=220 – age).
Study Participants
- 20 people who received a monovalent influenza vaccine;
- 28 people – trivalent influenza vaccine;
- 36 people received the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine against COVID-19.
Participants were included in the study if they regularly performed moderate to vigorous exercise two or more times per week, provided that at least one session lasted 50 minutes or longer.
When analyzing antibody levels before and after vaccination against coronavirus, 8 of 36 participants may have previously been infected with SARS-CoV-2 – their antibody levels before vaccination and two weeks after were significantly higher. These participants were excluded from the primary analysis.
Training Conditions
Monovalent influenza vaccine
- The intervention group performed 90 minutes of light to moderate exercise. Participants began exercising within 30 minutes of receiving the vaccine.
- The control group did not exercise. Participants watched the video for 90 minutes after the vaccine was given.
Trivalent flu vaccine
- The first group did the exercises for 45 minutes.
- The second group did the exercises for 90 minutes.
- The control group did not exercise. Participants watched the video for 90 minutes after the vaccine was given.
Vaccine against COVID-19
- The intervention group performed 90 minutes of exercise.
- The control group was engaged in daily activities, excluding physical activity.
All participants were asked to avoid strenuous exercise on the second dose of the vaccine.
90 Minutes of Exercise After Vaccination Boosts Antibody Production
- Exercise after vaccination stimulated the production of antibodies in response to influenza vaccines. The 90-minute exercise resulted in a significant increase in antibody levels compared to no training. However, 45-minute workouts had no such effect.
- Physical activity within 90 minutes of being vaccinated against COVID-19 significantly increased antibody production.
Participants recorded side effects for three days after receiving each vaccine. Sport after vaccination did not affect the strength and duration of side effects.
The scientists also investigated how different durations of physical activity affect the antibody response to an inactivated influenza vaccine. The study was carried out on mice. Mice that ran for 90 minutes had significantly higher antibody levels 4 weeks after vaccination than mice that did not run or ran for 180 minutes.
Interferon-Alpha for Optimal Antibody Production after Vaccination
Interferon-alpha is one of the mechanisms by which sport after vaccination enhances the production of antibodies. A 90-minute workout increases the production of interferon-alpha, which promotes dendritic cell activation, stimulates B and T cells, and increases the antibody response to the vaccine.
In mice, the scientists studied how interferon-alpha affects the production of antibodies under the condition of physical exertion. Mice were injected with antibodies to interferon-alpha or control antibodies. After being vaccinated against influenza, the mice exercised on a treadmill for 90 minutes or sat in a cage.
Mice that ran for 90 minutes had higher antibody levels, whether or not anti-interferon-alpha antibodies were injected. However, antibodies to interferon-alpha reduced the level of one of the IgG subclasses, which weakened the effect of exercise.
Conclusions
A 90-minute post-vaccination workout boosts antibody production in response to coronavirus and flu vaccines. Physical activity does not affect the strength and duration of side effects after vaccination.
Interferon-alpha stimulates the production of antibodies in response to vaccination. Physical activity enhances the production of interferon-alpha, so sports within 90 minutes of vaccination may increase the effectiveness of vaccines.
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