In their experiment, the Italian researchers found that the Pfizer vaccine was less effective in obese people. Compared to healthy vaccinees, obese people produced 50 percent fewer antibody levels after a second dose of the vaccine.
The Guardian reported Feb. 28 that Aldo Venuti, MD, of the Italian Ministry of health, published a report that he and his colleagues vaccinated 248 health care workers with two doses of the Pfizer vaccine and continuously observed the response of the vaccinees in producing antibodies. Seven days after the second dose of vaccine, 99.5% of those tested showed an antibody response, and the intensity of the response was higher than in patients who recovered from neocrown pneumonia. However, obese individuals showed a weaker response to the vaccine.
The results of the trial showed that after receiving the 2nd dose of the Pfizer vaccine, obese individuals produced antibody levels that were only 50% of those in healthy vaccine recipients. While it is not known what this means for the effectiveness of the vaccine, it may mean that additional vaccination agents may be needed for obese individuals to be adequately protected.
The U.S. began vaccinating health care workers with the Pfizer vaccine on December 14, 2020.
In another study of Brazilian health care workers, Altman and his colleagues also found that secondary infection with the new coronavirus was also more common among those with a higher BMI. In addition, they had a weaker response to produce antibodies after initial infection with the virus.
According to the report, the United States and the United Kingdom are two of the countries with the highest obesity rates in the world: U.S. government data show more than 40 percent of Americans are obese, while more than 27 percent of adults in the United Kingdom are obese.
Not only that, but the Pfizer vaccine has been questioned in several European countries. The official website of the Norwegian Medicines Agency (NOMA) reported that as of January 14, there were 23 suspected cases of death after vaccination.
In late January, a new pneumonia outbreak occurred in a Spanish nursing Home, with all 78 elderly people diagnosed and seven dying. The nursing home staff revealed that all the elderly had just received their first dose of Pfizer vaccine a few days before the outbreak.
On February 7, 14 elderly people in a German nursing home were diagnosed with a variant of the virus even after receiving two doses of the Pfizer vaccine.
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