While we wait for our turn to get vaccinated against SARS-CoV-2, we could — and probably should — use the time to make sure we bring our healthiest emotional and physical selves to the treatment, a new review of previous research suggests.

Ohio State University researchers reviewed 49 vaccine studies in humans dating back 30 years that document how stress, depression and poor health behaviors can negatively affect the body’s immune response to vaccination, and how improving health factors can enhance that response.

The impaired immune responses tended to fall into three categories — interference with the development of antibodies against the pathogen, more rapid erosion of antibody protection that does develop, or intensification of vaccination’s side effects.

The steady stress of navigating our disrupted routines and social lives during the pandemic may have set us back when it comes to maintaining healthy behaviors, the researchers say. They report on recent data from across the world documenting higher depressive and anxiety symptoms and more insomnia during lockdown, increased alcohol sales and overeating, and fewer average step counts recorded by Fitbits.

There is good news: The power to make improvements that give us the best chance for a healthy response to the coronavirus vaccine is almost completely in our control. Managing stress through exercise and mindfulness meditation, getting enough sleep, quitting or curbing tobacco use and improving our diets — even in the short term, right around the time of vaccination — could influence how our bodies respond, the evidence suggests. And for those struggling with depression, now would be a good time to seek professional help.

«When we think of vaccine efficacy, we often think of the vaccine itself. My motivation was to draw attention to the fact that we bring important factors to the table as well — and those factors are modifiable,» said Annelise Madison, first author of the paper and a graduate student in clinical psychology at Ohio State.

Story Source:
Materials provided by Ohio State University. Original written by Emily Caldwell. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.