To ensure vaccines work properly, men should get a good night’s sleep
The case for women is less clear
Vaccines get all the glory, but it is really the immune system that does the heavy lifting. Indeed, those with weak immune systems often benefit little from vaccines. Aware of this, researchers have long thought that people deprived of sleep also ought to benefit less from vaccines, as sleeping less is thought to reduce immune function. A new analysis reveals that this is clearly the case—though only in men.
This article appeared in the Science & technology section of the print edition under the headline “Give it a rest”
Science & technology March 18th 2023
From the March 18th 2023 edition
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