Can I take CBD after getting the COVID vaccine?

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 outbreak, researchers have published numerous studies indicating the benefits of CBD in managing infections. 

For example, some studies suggest that CBD might help reduce the effect of the cytokine storm in COVID-19 patients. There’s a lot of anecdotal evidence to support both this and other benefits of CBD concerning COVID-19. But as with most such research findings, there is very little peer-reviewed proof of clinical relevance or official statements from medical authorities. 

Despite all this uncertainty, CBD sales have soared through the roof in the past year. Besides the possible direct benefits, many people use CBD to cope with COVID-related stress and anxiety. With the recent availability of vaccines, which now offer longer-term, you may wonder if it’s safe to take CBD after getting the COVID vaccine.

While there’s no clear-cut answer, most experts advise that you err on the side of caution. Your best bet is to wait a few days after getting vaccinated before you begin to take CBD. If it takes longer for any side effects, such as swelling in your arm or flu-like symptoms to subside, you may have to wait a bit more. These recommendations, however, mainly apply to patients who take CBD in high doses. Low-dose CBD usage may not require any specific precautions. 

CBD Interaction with COVID Vaccines

To get a better understanding of why you should or shouldn’t take CBD after getting vaccinated, we need to look into how the two substances interact. As we mentioned before, there’s very little in the way of an authoritative position on the issue. Previous studies, however, show that CBD has anti-inflammatory properties which may modulate the immune response to the vaccine in some individuals. Many experts, therefore, suggest that you avoid taking CBD if you’re planning to get vaccinated or have recently taken the jab.

This doesn’t mean there are any proven adverse effects between CBD and the COVID vaccine. It’s equally likely that the two substances don’t have any interaction. Nevertheless, taking precautions is always a good idea. As such, it may be in your best interests to stop using CBD products for a week or two after getting the vaccine. Having said that, casual once-or-twice use of low-dose CBD will likely cause no issues.  

Taking CBD During the Pandemic 

We’ve already established an informed position regarding the use of CBD after getting the COVID vaccine. However, what’s even more important is to reduce your level of exposure to the virus. This involves being more careful and making slight changes to how you take your CBD during the pandemic. So it’s better not to share vaporizers or tincture droppers between users. Doing so only serves to provide direct contact between yourself and potentially infected people.

If you’re taking edibles, you’ll need to wash your hands before unwrapping and putting the product in your mouth. To avoid getting contaminated products, ensure that your CBD comes from licensed and regulated producers. 

Summing Up

To sum up, there’s no clinically proven relationship between CBD and the COVID vaccine. Previous studies, however, show that CBD has anti-inflammatory properties that may modify your immune response to the jab. As such, many specialists recommend a short hiatus from CBD if you’re planning to get vaccinated for COVID-19. But due to a lack of official data, this advice is mostly based on general caution. On the other hand, using CBD at low dosages is likely to have no negative impact, especially if you wait 48 to 72 hours after getting your vaccine before ingesting.