Stress may Affect Vaccines

Nov. 29, 2002 (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- A new study confirms what doctors thought before -- a person’s psychological state of mind can affect a physical response to vaccines.

This new research centers on the vaccine for meningitis C. The researchers asked a group of college students to answer a series of questions about their stress levels, events in their lives, their psychological well-being, and their coping mechanisms. Blood samples were taken and investigators studied the levels of meningitis C antibodies.

The study shows a high level of perceived stress, but not actual stress, was linked to low antibody levels. Researchers also found a low level of psychological well-being was linked to low antibody levels. They write, “These findings suggest that the feeling that one’s life is stressful and the experience of high levels of distress were more detrimental than actual exposure to stressful life events.”

In the United Kingdom, the meningitis C vaccine is routinely given to teenagers before they enter a university. The researchers believe it may be wise to reconsider the age at which the vaccine is given. Teenagers entering college may perceive stress and the effectiveness of the vaccine may be lessened.

Meningitis is an infection that causes inflammation of the membranes covering the brain and spinal cord. The bacterial form of the infection, called meningitis C, can be life threatening.

SOURCE: Published in the Nov./Dec. issue of Psychosomatic Medicine

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