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There is another health benefit to getting vaccinated against COVID-19 – and it takes effect after just one dose.
People who received the first dose of any coronavirus vaccine between December 2020 and March 2021 were less likely to develop mild or severe depression than those who had not been vaccinated, according to a new study published Wednesday in the journal PLoS One.
Researchers interviewed 8,003 adults and asked about their vaccine and their mental health during the pandemic.
While the study’s authors couldn’t pinpoint exactly why the increase in happiness levels, there may be a few key reasons.
Those who get vaccinated may be less stressed about getting sick from the coronavirus, the researchers said. They may also be more sociable or try out new work opportunities.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has affected many aspects of people’s lives, including their jobs and finances, health risks, and opportunities for socialization, all of which can affect mental health,” the authors said. the study.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 4 in 10 American adults, for example, had mental health or addiction issues in the summer of 2020 – up from about 1 in 10 adults before COVID-19 hit.
At the height of the pandemic, “mental distress increased sharply” and began to partially recover to a new peak in April and return to “a level comparable to that of early March” five months later, according to the study.
Economic improvement, including unemployment insurance and stimulus checks, may have played a role in “restoring mental health” since April of last year, researchers said.
Nonetheless, the results suggest that getting the vaccine is not a cure for Americans of mental health stressors, but rather a “direct, short-term effect of getting a first dose of the vaccine.”
The health benefits, however, may still extend to those who have not been vaccinated, the researchers said. Generalized vaccination can help everyone feel less anxious about getting sick or dying and benefiting from social interactions.
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