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The New York Times Feb. 9, 2022
Exercise May Enhance the Effects of a Covid or Flu Shot
by Gretchen Reynolds
A 90-minute walk, jog or bike ride after getting vaccinated may boost your body’s immune response.
Read more at The New York Times
Behind the headlines
Research findings and data from the National Library of Medicine
PubMed articles
Brain Behav Immun FEB. 4, 2022
Exercise after influenza or COVID-19 vaccination increases serum antibody without an increase in side effects
J Hallam et al
Vaccination is an effective public health measure, yet vaccine efficacy varies across different populations. Adjuvants improve vaccine efficacy but often increase reactog …
Med Sci Sports Exerc JAN. 1, 2000
Is infection risk linked to exercise workload?
DC Nieman
Anecdotal, survey, and epidemiological data suggest that endurance athletes are at an increased risk for upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) during periods of heavy …
Br J Sports Med JAN. 1, 2021
Physical inactivity is associated with a higher risk for severe COVID-19 outcomes: a study in 48 440 adult patients
R Sallis et al
Consistently meeting physical activity guidelines was strongly associated with a reduced risk for severe COVID-19 outcomes among infected adults. We recommend efforts to …
Sports Med JAN. 1, 2007
Marathon training and immune function
DC Nieman
Many components of the immune system exhibit adverse change after marathon-type exertion. These immune changes occur in several compartments of the immune system and body …
Brain Behav Immun JAN. 1, 2008
Exercise stress increases susceptibility to influenza infection
EA Murphy et al
Exercise stress is associated with an increased risk for upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) while moderate exercise has been associated with a decreased risk. We ha …
Front Immunol APRIL 16, 2018
Debunking the Myth of Exercise-Induced Immune Suppression: Redefining the Impact of Exercise on Immunological Health Across the Lifespan
JP Campbell et al
Epidemiological evidence indicates that regular physical activity and/or frequent structured exercise reduces the incidence of many chronic diseases in older age, includi …
Brain Behav Immun JAN. 1, 2007
Eccentric exercise as an adjuvant to influenza vaccination in humans
KM Edwards et al
The immune response to vaccination in animals can be enhanced by exposure to acute stress at the time of vaccination. The efficacy of this adjuvant strategy for vaccinati …
Brain Behav Immun JAN. 1, 2020
Elite athletes on regular training show more pronounced induction of vaccine-specific T-cells and antibodies after tetravalent influenza vaccination than controls
A Ledo et al
Compliance of elite athletes with vaccination recommendations is low mainly based on concerns about side-effects and perceived poor vaccine efficacy due to continued phys …
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The New York Times AUG. 26, 2020
Exercise May Boost Your Vaccine Response (Published 2020)
Two new studies of elite athletes found that working out amplifies the immune response to a flu shot.
The New York Times APRIL 14, 2021
Regular Exercise May Help Protect Against Severe Covid (Published 2021)
People who tended to be sedentary were far more likely to be hospitalized, and to die, from Covid than those who exercised regularly.
The New York Times MARCH 4, 2020
How Exercise May Affect Your Immunity (Published 2020)
Does exercise help or hinder our bodies’ ability to fight off infections? It depends.
The Washington Post DEC. 3, 2023
Why your mood could affect your flu shot
Genes play a major role. But exercise, a good mood, plenty of sleep and a gut-healthy diet could improve how we respond to shots.
The New York Times APRIL 25, 2018
How Strenuous Exercise Affects Our Immune System (Published 2018)
Marathons or other vigorous events are unlikely to make you vulnerable to colds afterward, according to a myth-busting review of the latest science.