Alcohol is said to reduce the body’s ability to develop immunity
Cleared through a fast-track process before clinical trials are completed, Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine continues to be delivered to priority people like doctors, soldiers, teachers and social workers before being rolled out on a larger scale in the coming days. Adenoviral vector vaccine developed by the Russian Gamaleïa institute, the Sputnik V vaccine is given in two injections 21 days apart.
In an interview given to Komsomolskaya Pravda radio on Tuesday, December 8, Anna Popova, head of health surveillance said that it was necessary to stop consuming alcohol before and after the injection of doses of the vaccine so that the one it is effective. More specifically, she recommends avoiding alcohol intake two weeks before the first injection of the vaccine and abstaining for an additional 42 days. According to her, alcohol reduces the body’s ability to develop immunity to Covid-19. She explains thus ” it is a pressure on the body. If we want to be healthy and have a strong immune response, don’t drink alcohol “.
Words that the Russian Deputy Prime Minister in charge of health, Tatiana Golikova also mentioned as we can read on the website of the Russian news agency TASS : ” vaccination against the new coronavirus will take 42 days and those vaccinated will need to take precautions during this time to avoid catching the infection. Thus, they should refrain from visiting crowded places, wear masks, use disinfectants, minimize contact and refrain from drinking alcohol or taking immunosuppressive drugs. “.
A recommendation contradicted by the creator of the vaccine
The words of Anna Popova and Tatiana Golikova were contradicted and qualified as ‘fake news’ by Alexander Gintsburg, director of the Gamaleïa institute behind the creation of the Sputnik V vaccine who spoke on this subject on the official Twitter account of the vaccine: “ a glass of champagne won’t harm anyone, not even your immune system “. In another tweet, Alexander Gintsburg still recommends abstaining from drinking alcohol for three days after each injection and recalls that this instruction is valid for all vaccines.
According to William Moss, executive director of the International Vaccine Access Center at Johns Hopkins University, “ there is no evidence that if you take a beer or a glass of wine a few days after receiving your vaccine, it will interfere with your immune response or your protection after the vaccine “.
Between the various announcements and recommendations, the heaviest drinkers in the world, whose average is 11.7 liters of pure alcohol per capita over 15 years of age in 2016, find themselves in a situation that could not be more confused.
