The Impact of Physical Activity on Vaccine Effectiveness: A Narrative Review
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.12775/QS.2026.60.72826Keywords
physical activity, exercise, vaccination, vaccine efficacy, immunosenescence, behavioral adjuvant, immunogenicityAbstract
Background: While vaccination is a crucial public health tool preventing millions of deaths worldwide every year, its efficacy is often constrained by age, sex, and metabolic health of individuals. In various studies physical activity (PA) both regular and acute, has emerged as a low-cost, modifiable factor capable of modulating immune responses to vaccines.
Objective: This review summarizes evidence on how habitual PA and acute exercise influence vaccine efficacy, exploring the mechanisms and variables (type, timing, intensity) that optimize outcomes across diverse groups.
Material & Methods: A literature search of PubMed and Google Scholar identified studies investigating habitual PA or acute exercise interventions on human immunological responses to vaccines (e.g., influenza, COVID-19).
Results: Habitual physical activity can act as a potent endogenous adjuvant, associated with higher post-vaccination antibody concentrations. It is particularly effective in older adults by countering immunosenescence and extending seroprotection. Acute exercise sessions performed near the time of vaccination also present adjuvant potential, especially for suboptimal vaccine responders. Localized eccentric resistance and aerobic sessions (>90 min) augment antibody titers, though efficacy varies by vaccine platform and demographics.
Conclusions: Physical activity is a safe, accessible non-pharmacological strategy to boost vaccine immunogenicity. While chronic exercise provides a robust physiological foundation, the success of acute exercise as a behavioral adjuvant depends on specific parameters of intensity and timing. Future large-scale randomized controlled trials, particularly in immunocompromised and elderly populations, are necessary to establish formal clinical guidelines.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Maciej Piotr Dercz, Michał Głaszczka, Alicja Fitas, Aleksandra Gardzielik, Karolina Korowaj, Jakub Paweł Palacz, Michał Radliński, Urszula Zofia Jabłońska, Klaudia Woźniak, Kinga Zofia Papciak
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