Exercise & flu shots
April 23, 2013
Flu vaccines have a success rate
of around 50 to 70 percent; but
researchers from Sydney University
have found that exercising at the
time of having a flu injection may
increase its success.
In a recent article in Human
Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics, Dr
Kate Edwards from the University’s
Faculty of Health Sciences, Exercise
and Sport Science unit, and coauthor,
Professor Robert Booy,
wrote that while being physically
active has been found to improve
immunity in general, specifically
doing some exercise immediately
before or after a vaccination can
boost its response through changes
in the immune system such as
increasing circulating cell numbers.
Physical activity after a shot might
not only make the vaccine work
better, it might protect also from
some side effects as well.
“We are almost certain that
exercise can help vaccine response
by activating parts of the immune
system that means it’s ready
to respond when the vaccine is
administered” says Dr Edwards.
She cites a study conducted
by scientists at the Iowa State
University that showed mice who
ran leisurely for about half an hour
after vaccination showed maximum
resistance to any side effects of the
flu shot.
Conversely the mice who were
sedentary and the ones who
indulged in extreme exercises
succumbed to the side effects.
The trick it seems is not to overdo
physical activity after a flu shot but
engage in moderate activities and
drink plenty of fluids.
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