AMES, Iowa - Going for a long jog or taking a brisk walk could increase the benefits of the COVID-19 shot, a new study finds.The findings, published in Brain, Behavior and Immunity, demonstrate that 90 minutes of exercise after immunization of the vaccine increases antibody response several weeks later across several models.According to the study’s researchers, a total of 68 people were included in the final analysis, which analyzed the effects of exercise on different influenza vaccines or the COVID-19 vaccine.
In addition, 75 mice were included in experiments to determine the minutes of exercise required to increase antibody response to the influenza vaccine.In the experiments involving the COVID-19 vaccine, participants were randomly assigned to 90 minutes of outdoor exercise — brisk walking or jogging depending on the fitness level of the person.
All participants were asked to avoid exercise on the day the second vaccine dose was given.A jogger running outdoors. (Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images) The exercise sessions were supervised by research personnel, and routes were designed to monitor heart rate and perceived exertion (RPE) approximately every 10 minutes.
An exercise heart rate in the light-to-moderate zone of approximately 120–140 beats per minute or 60-70% of age-predicted maximal heart rate was targeted.RELATED: COVID-19 vaccines in pregnant women may protect newborns, study showsThe exercise sessions began within 15 to 30 minutes after receiving the Influenza or COVID-19 vaccine.