Russians urged to avoid alcohol after receiving Sputnik Covid vaccine

Russian officials have warned recipients of the Sputnik V Covid-19 vaccine not to drink alcohol after receiving the jab, warning of the “strain” beer, wine and spirits place on the body.

Alexander Ginzburg, head of the NF Gamaleya Federal Research Centre for Epidemiology and Microbiology, which developed the vaccine, said that Sputnik V recipients should refrain from alcohol for three days after each injection.

“It's just about reasonable restriction of consumption until the body has formed its immune response to coronavirus infection,”  news agencyInterfax quoted him as saying.

On Saturday, Russia began inoculating thousands of doctors, teachers and others at dozens of centres in Moscow with its Sputnik V vaccine.

Russia authorised use of the shot in the summer after it was tested in only a few dozen people.

Mr Ginzburg’s advice followed guidance given by Anna Popova, head of Russia’s consumer safety watchdog Rospotrebnadzor, who suggested those receiving the Sputnik V jab should abstain from alcohol for two weeks before the first jab and 42 days after it had been administered – 56 days in total.

Russian news agency Tass said those inoculated were being told to observe specific precautions to reduce the risk of infection before both the initial vaccine and the follow-up shot been administered.

They include avoiding crowded places and contact with others, washing hands and wearing face masks, and refraining from drinking alcohol or taking immunosuppressant drugs.

“It’s a strain on the body. If we want to stay healthy and have a strong immune response, don't drink alcohol,” Ms Popova told local radio, according to The Moscow Times.

No such guidance exists in the UK. 

A spokesman for Pfizer, whose Covid vaccine began being rolled out by the NHS on Tuesday, said health regulators had not included any warnings about alcohol consumption relating to the jab.