Recent COVID-19 vaccination is associated with modest increases in the physiological demands to graded exercise

Abstract

Athletes are advised to receive the COVID-19 vaccination to protect them from SARS CoV-2 infection during major competitions. Despite this, many athletes are reluctant to get the COVID-19 vaccine due to concerns that symptoms of vaccinosis may impair athletic performance.OBJECTIVETo determine the effects of COVID-19 vaccination on the physiological responses to graded exercise.METHODSHealthy participants completed a 20-minute bout of graded cycling exercise before and ~21 days after COVID-19 vaccination (2 dose Pfizer mRNA or 1 dose Johnson & Johnson).RESULTSOxygen uptake, CO2 production, respiratory exchange ratio, ventilation, heart rate, serum noradrenaline, and rating of perceived exertion were significantly elevated in the post vaccine trial. However, vaccination did not affect serum lactate, adrenaline, cortisol, predicted , and ventilatory threshold. Post-vaccine effects on heart rate and noradrenaline remained significant in non-infected participants that received the Pfizer vaccine. No significant effects in respiratory gas exchange parameters were found after vaccination in those previously exposed to SARS-CoV-2, but exercise adrenaline levels were significantly lower and serum lactate levels trending (p= 0.10) lower after vaccination. No changes in any physiological responses to exercise were found in control participants who completed two bouts of exercise separated by ~5 weeks without vaccination.CONCLUSIONRecent COVID-19 vaccination is associated with modest increases in the physiological demands to graded exercise in non-infected healthy people but may actually improve metabolic responses to exercise in those previously infected with SARS-CoV-2. Whether or not these small effects could impact athletic performance at the elite level warrants investigation.

Estimated Oxygen Consumption with the Abbreviated Method and Its Association with Vaccination and PCR Tests for COVID-19 from Socio-Demographic, Anthropometric, Lifestyle, and Morbidity Outcomes in Chilean Adults

“…Accordingly, we suggest as a hypothesis that the vaccine produced an acute effect of lowering O 2 max since the people who reported having been vaccinated were inoculated with the COVID-19 virus itself. We can support this hypothesis based on the findings of Batatinha et al [ 41 ], who, when applying a pre-test, vaccine (Pfizer and Johnson&Johnson), and post-test, did not find significant differences in O 2 max on a cycle ergometer between the two measurements, both in infected, non-infected (both vaccinated), and control participants (not vaccinated), although the sample was only 12 participants.…”

“…For its part, regarding the evaluation of O 2 max through stress tests, it is necessary to apply them during the virus contagion stage to obtain more information about these tests and how they could help control COVID-19. Since to date, there are no specific records of stress tests for this virus [ 10 ] from they have been carried out on very small samples [ 41 ]. On the other hand, it is known that the development of aerobic exercise of moderate or intense intensity increases lymphocytes and other immune cells in the blood [ 5 ]; therefore, one of the utilities that the evaluation of CRF status could have in the young adult age is that it could influence the severity of COVID-19 many years later [ 18 ].…”