Drinking alcohol could 'reduce effectiveness' of coronavirus vaccine, experts warn

Drinking alcohol could reduce the effectiveness of the coronavirus vaccine, experts have warned.

Alcohol alters the make-up of the microorganisms in the gut which help to halt bacteria and viruses spreading throughout the body.

This can mean the white blood cells - which release antibodies to attack the likes of Covid-19 and other bugs - become damaged or reduced and unable to fight off an attack.

As part of new BBC documentary, The Truth About... Boosting Your Immune System, which airs on Wednesday, Dr Ronx Ikharia conducted an experiment with Prosecco.

The emergency medicine specialist took blood samples before and after drinking three glasses of the popular Italian sparkling white wine.

They found the quantity was enough to reduce the levels of white lymphocyte cells in the blood by half.

Meanwhile, University of Manchester immunologist Professor Sheena Cruickshank said the reduction in lymphocytes could lower the effectiveness of the body's immune response.

As a result, she has warned anyone receiving the vaccine to abstain from alcohol immediately before and after the jab.She told the programme: "You need to have your immune system working tip-top to have a good response to the vaccine, so if you're drinking the night before, or shortly afterwards, that's not going to help."

The roll out of the newly-approved Oxford-Astrazeneca inoculation will begin today, with Prime Minister Boris Johnson promised "tens of millions" will receive a jab in the next three months.

A further 54,990 positive tests and 454 deaths recorded on Sunday as the new mutated Covid-19 strain - estimated to have an increased transmission rate of 70 percent - continues to run rampant in the UK.Follow the Official Rokna NEWS Telegram Channel For More and fresh NEWS.

Mirror