Does exercise give vaccinations a shot in the arm?

Along with the advice exercisers hear each flu season - leave the running shoes in the closet if you’ve got a fever - is this tip for anyone about to get a shot in the arm: Get moving.

Those getting a flu vaccination could benefit from moderate exercise - a brisk walk - before their vaccination, according to recommendations from the American College of Sports Medicine, the largest sports medicine and exercise science organization in the world.

David C. Nieman, the vice president of the organization, says exercise boosts the body’s antibody response, making the vaccination more effective.

But only a few studies have looked into the effects of exercise on vaccination, and they were hardly broad in scope.

For instance, in ...