Vaccine Prep
Steps we can take to decrease the side effects from, and improve our responsiveness to, a COVID-19 vaccine.
Some of us are finding an appointment for the COVID-19 vaccine has made its way to a block on the calendar. Ideally, we arrive at our appointment as healthy as possible. This blog will provide you with some things you can do, prior to your appointment and in the weeks that follow, to support a robust immune response. That’s the job of a vaccine: teaching our immune systems to recognize the coronavirus and to respond appropriately.
Improved mental and physical health, of course, also helps lower the risk of getting COVID-19, in the first place, and could potentially decrease the severity of illness should you contract the virus.
People with certain conditions -- like obesity, heart disease, and type 2 diabetes mellitus -- are at increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19, according to the CDC. As with any chronic disease or illness, addressing the lifestyle factors that heavily influence our health is ideal: sleep, exercise, nutrition, stress, and relationships. As some of you know, having met with me at the clinic, I do not neglect the ways in which these factors are in a symbiotic relationship with our gut health. That’s what this whole series is about! Health at the gut level, and its crucial support of our immune system.
For now, here are some quick tips for those with an approaching appointment for a COVID-19 vaccine.
If vaccination is weeks or months away:
enhance immune function by addressing the following list, spend time outdoors and in the sunshine, and laugh!
consider supplementing with B vitamins, folate, or iron
decrease inflammation by decreasing or eliminating processed foods, sugar, and alcohol
consider supplementing with zinc, quercetin, and resveratrol
stop smoking
manage stress
establish a regular exercise routine
implement mind/body therapies such as guided visualization or meditation
increase dietary fiber from vegetables
optimize microbiota through eating vegetables, fermented foods like kombucha, resistant starch like cooked and cooled rice, and taking a probiotic
work with a functional medicine practitioner to address autoimmunity and hormone balance
If you are getting vaccinated in the next few days:
avoid acute stressors
get adequate sleep
do not take acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil) prior to vaccination
If you happen to get sick in the days prior to vaccination, postpone getting vaccinated.
Greater physical and mental health will not only support a vibrant immune system, it will also help sustain the protection stimulated by a vaccine. As we continue to study this coronavirus, our varied immune responses, and the shelf-life of antibodies that protect us, do what you can to increase your overall health. In the weeks and months following your vaccination, educate yourself on the immune response and the ways in which your gut ais supporting it. Your body -- and your loved ones -- will thank you.