After receiving the influenza vaccine, many people feel uncertain and have questions about daily life: “Should I avoid exercise today?” “Is it okay to take a bath?” “Can I drink alcohol?” In particular, the outdated information that “bathing is prohibited for 6 hours after vaccination” still persists, leading people to unnecessarily restrict their daily activities.
However, based on the latest clinical knowledge in 2025, the conclusion is very simple: “If you adhere only to the 30-minute waiting rule, you can resume 100% of your normal life starting on the day of vaccination.”
Influenza Vaccine Post-Vaccination Manual: “Day Of and Day After” (2025 Japan Edition)
| Item | Day Of (Post-Vaccination to Bedtime) | Day After and Later | Reason / Key Points |
| Bathing/Shower | ◎ Perfectly OK! | ◎ OK anytime | As of 2025, the “wait 6 hours” advice is completely outdated. The needle puncture site closes within 30 minutes. |
| Strenuous Exercise (e.g., Soccer, Weight Training, Running) | △ Preferably refrain | ◎ Perfectly OK | The arm may swell today, and 10% may feel sluggish from side effects. 100% recovery by the next day. |
| Light Exercise (e.g., Walking, Stretching, Yoga) | ◎ Totally OK | ◎ OK | Moving the arm actually helps swelling subside faster. |
| Alcohol Consumption | △ Best to refrain(1-2 beers is OK) | ◎ OK to drink normally | Side effects (sluggishness, mild fever) may be enhanced by alcohol on the day of. |
| Work/School | ◎ Perfectly OK(100% for desk work) | ◎ Perfectly OK | 99% of children and adults are fine the next day. Pediatricians say, “No need to take time off.” |
| Lifting the Arm / Carrying Heavy Objects | △ Avoid today | ◎ OK | The injection site is sore today, so carry backpacks on the opposite shoulder. |
| If a Fever Develops | Take Calonal(Acetaminophen) and sleep. | Subsides in about 1 day. | Use antipyretics if fever is 38.5∘C or higher. |
| Driving | ◎ OK to drive immediately | ◎ OK | Anaphylaxis (1 in a million) occurs within 30 minutes, so waiting 30 minutes makes driving safe. |
2025 “Post-Vaccination Schedule” Ideal Template
| Time | Action |
| Immediately after vaccination ∼ 30 mins | Wait in the waiting room (for anaphylaxis countermeasure). |
| After 30 minutes | Go home, have a normal dinner, and take a bath. |
| Night | Cool the arm if it is painful. Limit alcohol consumption. |
| Next Morning | 99% bounce back perfectly → Go to school/work as usual. |
Summary
“Adhering only to the 30-minute post-vaccination wait means 100% normal life from the same day!” → Bathing, work, and light exercise are all OK. → Just avoiding strenuous exercise and excessive drinking on the day of makes it perfect.
At-Home Testing Kit Ranking (Combined COVID-19 and Influenza)
Here is the English translation of the ranking table for at-home diagnostic kits that test for both COVID-19 and Influenza A/B:
| Rank | Product Name (Manufacturer) | Targets Detected | Sensitivity (Detection Rate) (Estimate: 12-48h Post-Onset) | Result Time | Approximate Price (Per Test) | Suitability for Pregnant Women / Children | Key Features & Availability |
| 1 | Panbio COVID-19/Flu A&B | COVID + Flu A/B | COVID: Approx. 90% | Flu: Approx. 85% | 15 mins | ¥1,980 – ¥2,480 | ◎ (Shallow Nasal Swab) |
| 2 | クイックナビ-Flu+COVID | Same (COVID + Flu A/B) | COVID: 88% | Flu: 80–85% | 15–20 mins | ¥1,780 – ¥2,200 | ◎ (Designed for children’s use) |
| 3 | KBMラインチェック nCoV/Flu | Same (COVID + Flu A/B) | COVID: 85% | Flu: Approx. 80% | 15 mins | ¥1,480 – ¥1,980 | ◎ |
| 4 | イージードック Flu＆COVID-19 | Same (COVID + Flu A/B) | COVID: 87% | Flu: 82% | 15 mins | ¥2,200 – ¥2,600 | ◎ (Many cases of use by pregnant women) |
