If you’re planning to get vaccinated for COVID-19, it might be a good idea to lay off the booze for a few days before or after each shot. That’s the advice coming from experts worldwide who, like the World Health Organization, have noted that alcohol, especially in large amounts can negatively impact the immune system.

While there’s no evidence that alcohol in any amount directly impacts COVID-19 vaccine efficacy, chronic and heavy alcohol use (defined by the CDC as more than 8 drinks per week for women and 15 drinks per week for men) can damage the immune cells that line the intestines, which serve as the first line of defense against viruses and bacteria.

A 2015 study by University of Maryland researchers found that a single episode of binge drinking – 4 drinks or more in a sitting – depletes the infection-fighting abilities of certain white blood cells in the hours after intoxication.



Another UK study – highlighted in a recent BBC documentary, found that three glasses of Prosecco demolished half the body’s white blood cells, including lymphocytes which help attack viruses with antibodies.

Despite skyrocketing alcohol sales during the COVID-19 pandemic, protecting yourself means making sure that your immune system is in optimal shape. That means eating right, getting enough sleep, exercising, and yes, limiting your alcohol intake.

But does that mean you can’t have a glass of wine or two before or after getting the vaccine? It’s a question that’s being debated worldwide.

Russian health official Anna Popova drew ire last month after she recommended that those getting the Sputnik V COVID vaccine in that country avoid alcohol altogether for two weeks prior to getting the first vaccine and for six weeks thereafter to ensure optimal efficacy of the two Sputnik vaccines, which are to be administered 21 days apart. The vaccine’s developer, Alexander Gintsburg pushed back on Twitter suggesting that “One glass of champagne won’t hurt anyone, not even your immune system.” He did go on to say, though, in a subsequent tweet, that reducing your alcohol use can boost immunity and refraining from alcohol for three days before and after each vaccine makes perfect sense, regardless of where you live or which COVID vaccine you’ll be getting.



Closer to home, William Moss, executive director of the International Vaccine Access Center at Johns Hopkins University says, “There’s no evidence that, if you have one beer or a glass of wine a couple days after you get your vaccine, that’s going to interfere with your immune response or protection following the vaccine.”

Ok, but if you’re lucky enough to get the vaccine, going a few days without booze doesn’t seem like a huge sacrifice. If it is, maybe that’s a different conversation.

A fair amount of my friends and colleagues are in recovery and don’t drink alcohol at all. Some of my friends are triathletes and drink only occasionally in order to maximize their training time. Other folks I know probably drink fairly regularly and upped their game around the holidays and certainly during COVID. Several studies have tracked the dramatic increase increase in alcohol use during the pandemic and one study found that binge drinking jumped 19% for every week during COVID quarantines.

Combine excessive drinking with the widespread desire for a fresh start as we begin a new year that with any luck, will be better than 2020 and you have “Dry January,” an annual tradition launched a few ago years in the UK where participants ditch alcohol for the first thirty-one days of the year.

It’s a little gimmicky, but eliminating alcohol from your diet has some clear benefits. Here are a few:

1. Eliminating alcohol – even for a month – reduces health risks, especially if your liver and immune system have been under stress due to excessive alcohol use.
2. You will likely lose some weight because alcohol contains big empty calories. You’re also more likely to make lousy food choices when under the influence.
3. Your skin will be clearer because you won’t be chronically dehydrated or accelerating the aging process with the toxins in alcohol.
4. You will probably sleep better as alcohol messes with REM sleep and electrical wavelengths in the brain.
5. Your moods will level out and you’re less likely to experience depression; alcohol is a powerful depressant.
6. You’ll save money because booze is expensive. Water is not.

Most importantly, you’ll have a chance to re-evaluate your relationship with alcohol. Will staying sober for a month be challenging? What are the benefits to limiting your alcohol use? How did you feel during the first, second and third weeks? How did other people react to your pledge? What’s your game plan for February?



If you’re serious about committing to “Dry January,” here are a few tips that will help you stay alcohol-free for 31 days:

1. Avoid people, places and things that will increase cravings.
2. Tell others about your goals and ask for their support. Post on social media using the #dryjanuary hashtag.
3. Find a favorite beverage to replace the beer, wine or booze. Try cranberry juice, flavored seltzer or tea.
4. Start or double down on an exercise plan that will keep you feeling occupied, healthy and with less stress.

What happens if you drink two weeks in?

You try again next January.

You get back on track. We don’t trash an entire diet plan because we snuck a cookie. This is the same. If you drink, you’ll likely regret it, but spend some time thinking about what set the stage for the slip. How were you feeling at the time? What could you have done differently to avoid alcohol? How did you rationalize drinking at the time? How are you feeling now about it? Why is it important to you that you continue on with this challenge?

Remember this: Every saint has a past, every sinner has a future.  You can finish January feeling healthy and strong.

There is one really important caveat here: If within a day or two of going sober, you experience shaking, headaches, nausea, increased anxiety or insomnia, it’s potentially a sign that you were drinking too much alcohol and your body is now struggling to adjust to life without it. It can be dangerous if you are a moderate to heavy drinker and you abruptly stop drinking. In those instances, please consider getting professional help by calling LICADD at 516-747-2606.