Turbo-charge your jab!

When it’s your turn to receive the jab, here are a few ways to make sure it’s extra effective, says Lizzy Dening

Right now, it’s important to reflect on R just how incredible it is that scientists have been able to develop a range of vaccinations for Covid-19 in such a short space of time. It’s a truly impressive feat – not to mention a huge relief – to know that there are several kinds of vaccine now approved and everyone will be vaccinated as soon as is feasible.

Past studies suggest that making some small changes can have a big impact on making flu jabs more effective, so although it’s early days in terms of research for these new vaccinations, it’s certainly possible that the same can be said for Covid-19 vaccines.

Either way, these tips can improve your overall health and bolster your immunity, so you haven’t got anything to lose in trying!

1 Work those arms.

It sounds peculiar, but researchers from the University of Birmingham found that exercising your arms a few hours before a flu vaccination helps develop a stronger immune response. So it might well be worth doing some ‘baked bean tin’ lifts, or even a couple of push-ups if you can manage it, before you get your Covid dose!

2 …And the rest of your body too.

Exercise before or after a jab has been shown, in a small study, to almost double your number of antibodies. This is, of course, the exact response you’re looking for after a vaccine, as your body triggers an immune response to help protect you in future. (We’d recommend doing it earlier though, as vaccinations can make you feel a bit sluggish later on.)

3 Head to bed early.

If you’ve got a jab booked for the following day, an early night might make all the difference, according to a study from the University of California. Researchers found that participants who had the least sleep the night before developed the lowest level of antibodies to the flu in the months afterwards.

4 Nurture your gut.

There’s a clear connection between gut health and immunity, so now’s the time to give it the good stuff.

We’re talking probiotics (generally fermented foods, such as sauerkraut and live yogurt, that increase your healthy gut bacteria) and prebiotics (the foods that ‘feed’ your healthy bacteria – including pulses and numerous vegetables). A 2017 study found that eating plenty of both before a vaccine nearly doubled the number of people who went on to develop protective levels of antibodies.