Can I Exercise After a COVID-19 or Flu Vaccine?

Listen to your body, and scale back your usual workout routine if needed.

In an era where vaccinations, particularly for conditions like COVID-19 and the flu, have taken center stage, individuals often wonder about the compatibility of exercise with post-vaccination life. To provide clarity on this matter, it is essential to understand the benefits, risks, and considerations associated with engaging in physical activity after receiving a vaccine.

Is It Safe to Exercise After a Vaccine?

The resounding answer is yes; it is generally safe to exercise after being vaccinated, provided you feel well enough to do so. According to Humberto Choi, MD, a pulmonologist at the Cleveland Clinic, there is no compelling evidence to suggest that exercising either immediately before or after vaccination has any significant impact on the vaccine’s efficacy. Whether or not you proceed with exercise post-vaccination hinges on the side effects you experience.

Aditya Shah, MD, an infectious disease specialist at the Mayo Clinic, emphasizes that if you can tolerate the side effects of a vaccine, there is no reason to abstain from exercising. It is worth noting that vaccines, including those for COVID-19 and seasonal flu, may elicit side effects such as fever, headache, muscle aches, and localized pain and swelling at the injection site. These side effects, while potentially affecting your daily activities, serve as indicators of your immune system’s response to the vaccine, as explained by David Wyles, MD, an infectious disease specialist at Denver Health.

Over-the-counter medications like Advil (ibuprofen), aspirin, or Tylenol (acetaminophen) can alleviate these side effects. Dr. Wyles suggests that taking one of these medications may help you feel better and more inclined to engage in a workout. However, if you have any doubts about the safety of these medications after vaccination, consulting a healthcare provider is advisable.

When Can You Resume Exercise After a Vaccine?

The impact of vaccination on your exercise routine is generally minimal. While some individuals experience mild side effects that dissipate within a few days without disrupting their daily activities, others may opt for a brief hiatus from exercise to allow for recovery. In essence, the key is to listen to your body.

Dr. Wyles advises that if you do not feel well enough to exercise after receiving a vaccine, it is perfectly reasonable to take a rest day or two. Forcing yourself into strenuous physical activity while under the weather is counterproductive. Sivan Fagan, CPT, a strength and nutrition coach, emphasizes that such an approach will not yield optimal performance.

Possible Risks and Side Effects

While there are minimal risks associated with exercising after vaccination, it is impossible to predict precisely how your body will respond to a vaccine. Potential risks and side effects may include:

1. Adverse Side Effects: If the pain or redness at the injection site worsens after 24 hours, or if side effects persist beyond a few days, it is advisable to consult a healthcare provider. While severe allergic reactions to vaccines are exceedingly rare, immediate medical attention should be sought if such a reaction is suspected.

2. Fainting: Fainting is a possible side effect of various vaccines, including COVID-19 and seasonal flu vaccines. A study published in 2022 highlighted six cases of fainting occurring within 10–40 minutes of COVID-19 vaccination, suggesting a potential risk of injury if one engages in exercise immediately after vaccination.

3. Impact on Workout Quality: The side effects of vaccination can potentially detract from the quality of your workout, making it less enjoyable. However, it is crucial to remember that these side effects are considerably milder than those experienced when sick.

Younger adults often experience side effects more frequently than older individuals, as some evidence indicates that their immune systems respond more robustly to COVID-19 vaccines. Furthermore, the second dose of Moderna or Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines may induce more intense side effects than the initial dose.

When to Exercise Caution

It is essential to recognize that it typically takes weeks for immunity to develop fully after vaccination. For instance, you are not considered “fully vaccinated” until two weeks after receiving a COVID-19 vaccine. Therefore, if you plan to partake in indoor, maskless workouts at facilities mandating vaccination, it is crucial to adhere to this two-week waiting period.

Basic public health precautions, such as frequent handwashing and staying home when ill, should continue to be observed even after full vaccination. Dr. Shah underscores the importance of maintaining these precautions.

Moreover, exercising in public spaces should be avoided if you develop symptoms indicative of COVID-19 or the flu, including loss of smell or taste, cough, fatigue, fever, gastrointestinal symptoms (e.g., diarrhea, nausea, vomiting), headache, muscle aches, runny or stuffy nose, sore throat, or breathing difficulties. While COVID-19 vaccines do not infect individuals with the virus, there is still a slim possibility of contracting COVID-19 in close proximity to vaccination. In such cases, workout plans should be postponed, and testing should be pursued promptly if COVID-19 symptoms manifest.

Does the Type of Exercise Matter?

The intensity and type of side effects may influence your choice of exercise post-vaccination. If you feel sluggish or experience arm pain, opting for a gentle variation of your regular workout may be more suitable. For example, substituting a high-intensity workout with a leisurely long walk or modifying a full-body strength routine to focus on core and leg exercises if your arm is aching can be prudent strategies.

Flexibility is key when planning your post-vaccination workouts since individual responses to vaccines vary. The guiding principle should always be to adapt your workout to how you feel after vaccination.

The Potential Benefits of Post-Vaccination Exercise

Research indicates that exercise following vaccination may have the potential to enhance your immune response by increasing the production of antibodies. However, it’s worth noting that the evidence in this regard is mixed, with some studies suggesting that exercise may not significantly impact vaccine efficacy.

A study published in 2022 discovered that a single 90-minute session of light-to-moderate indoor cycling or outdoor walking and jogging led to an augmented antibody response within four weeks of COVID-19 and seasonal flu vaccination. The researchers observed that exercise serves as an acute stressor that could potentially boost immune responses both before and after vaccination.

Exercise also triggers an inflammatory response that may activate more antigen-presenting cells (APCs) than usual. APCs are immune cells crucial for combating infections. It is important to note that the precise mechanisms and effects of exercise on immune responses are complex and continue to be an active area of research.

In Conclusion

Engaging in exercise after receiving a vaccine is generally safe, with individual responses varying. While there may be minimal risks and side effects, it is essential to listen to your body and adapt your workouts accordingly. Whether you opt for a rest day or choose to engage in a modified exercise routine, the goal is to prioritize your well-being while considering the potential benefits of enhancing your immune response through post-vaccination exercise.

As the landscape surrounding COVID-19 evolves, staying informed through reputable sources such as the CDC, WHO, and local public health departments remains paramount. The information provided here reflects the status of knowledge at the time of publication but is subject to change as new data and recommendations emerge. Your health and well-being are of utmost importance, and prudent measures should be taken to safeguard them during these times.