US study reveals COVID-19 vaccine 1st dose can boost mental health, Indian doctors affirm

By Team Newsable | First Published Oct 22, 2021, 4:47 PM IST

However, they have said that India lacks these kinds of studies that might demonstrate a link between immunisation and mental health.

A recent study in the United States has revealed that people who have received the first dose of Covid-19 vaccine are less likely to experience stress. The research by the Centre for Economic and Social Research (CESR) at the University of Southern California published recently a study in the journal PLOS that stated, "Getting the first dose of Covid-19 vaccine resulted in significant improvements in mental health beyond improvement already achieved since mental distress peaked in spring 2020."

Meanwhile, Indian doctors have affirmed that there is a short-term effect of vaccination in boosting mental health as highlighted by the study. However, they have said that India lacks these kinds of studies that might demonstrate a link between immunisation and mental health.

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The researchers analyzed 8,003 adults who were, surveyed at regular intervals between March 10, 2020, and March 31, 2021. It found out that “people who were vaccinated between December 2020 and March 2021 reported decreased mental distress levels in the surveys conducted after receiving the first dose,” as reported by ANI.

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Talking about the US study, Dr Nand Kumar, professor and in-charge, ICMR CARE in Neuromodulation for Mental Health, Department of Psychiatry, AIIMS, New Delhi was quoted as saying, “I think they have covered a good sample. They have covered over 8,000 people. It is a good study. But, for vaccines per se, there is no scientific data that says that there is any biological effect of the vaccine that can boost mental health. But vaccine certainly helps in improving mental health in general.”

He said the Covid-19 vaccination has improved mental health not directly but indirectly by boosting people's confidence about the safety that they are vaccinated and they are safe. People have become more outgoing, confident in going out and meeting people. The fear of the pandemic and that they will be affected by the virus has come down significantly.

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