Apart from following all the COVID-19 protocols, the only way to prevent yourself from getting infected is by getting vaccinated. Due to a surge in the number of cases, the vaccination process is being sped up. The government has announced that people over the age of 18 will be able to get vaccinated from May 1 onwards.

And a common question among smokers is if they can smoke after receiving the vaccine? Here is all that you need to know about smoking and vaccination.

As per the World Health Organisation, people who smoke are more at risk of contracting coronavirus infection and thus it’s important for them to get vaccinated as soon as possible.

Not just this, smoking also reduces lung capacity and increases the risk of contracting several other respiratory illnesses. Many reports have added that smokers are at a higher risk of contracting severe COVID-19 outcomes.

Recently, Dr Vishakha who is a nutritionist took to Instagram suggesting that people should not smoke after taking the first jab of the coronavirus vaccine as it lowers the antibody response to several vaccines. Smokers can even use a nicotine patch or gum if required but should not smoke.

The doctor shared a series of posts on Instagram where she mentioned all about what a person should do if they are getting the jab. She also mentioned that people must take 6 hours of sleep per night before they get the vaccine.

People must try and do some breathing exercises to reduce stress. Not just smoking, even alcohol consumption can weaken the immune system’s response to the vaccine. Thus, a person must avoid consuming alcohol three days prior to getting the vaccine. And binge drinking must be avoided for 45 days before getting the jab.