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Updated: May 7, 2021, 6:00 p.m.
CoViD-19 vaccination and diving
FRANCE – CMPN FFESSM
The National Medical and Prevention Commission of the FFESSM has issued the following recommendations on diving after COVID-19 vaccination:
Vaccination, regardless of the vaccine used, causes an inflammatory reaction of varying intensity in the body which involves the activation of endothelial cells and platelets. It is therefore possible that there is interference with the risk of desaturation accident (ADD): the bubble phenomenon also generates a reaction in the body with the involvement of inflammatory phenomena and platelet activation (decompression sickness).
We do not know the duration of this inflammatory syndrome, which is probably a few days (probably variable between 2 and 7-10 days), and whether the intensity of this inflammatory syndrome correlates with the severity of the general reaction to the vaccine.
The only way to avoid a desaturation accident (ADD)… is to refrain from diving! A period of abstention from diving for a few days after vaccination with then gradual resumption by dives in the safety curve is recommended, or at a minimum dives in the safety curve to less than 20 meters.
In the event of abnormal sensations during the practice of your sporting and underwater activity (chest pain, disproportionate shortness of breath, cough, palpitations, discomfort, excessive fatigue), stop your effort, report to your partner or trainer with the sign “this don’t go” and get out of the water.
THE COMPLETE TEXT
CoViD-CMPN-FFESSMAccess the text on the CMPN-FFESSM website
BELGIUM
The Belgian Society of Hyperbaric and Underwater Medicineissued the following recommendations on diving after COVID-19 vaccination, while specifying that they were subject to change:
- A waiting period of at least 7 days is recommended after each dose of COViD-19 vaccine before resuming compressed gas or freediving.
- It is recommended to extend this period to 14 days for these divers:
- who have had adverse effects after vaccination lasting more than 48 hours,
- with risk factors such as for example (non-exhaustive list):1. excess weight
2. a chronic metabolic disease (including diabetes)
3. smoking
4. taking medications that may increase the risk of thromboembolism (including oral contraceptives) 5. or a combination of these factors - who wish to carry out dives requiring specific technical abilities or exceeding the limits of recreational diving without mandatory decompression (e.g. technical diving, deep diving with decompression).
- If symptoms (adverse effects) persist more than 48 hours after COVID-19 vaccination, divers are advised to consult their general practitioner.
- Since COVID-19 vaccination does not protect 100% from the possibility of transmitting the SARS-CoV2 virus to other people, the protective measures currently in force (distance, mask, hygiene) must be observed by any diver , whether vaccinated or not.
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