Pfizer-BioNtech Covid-19 Vaccine Less Effective on Obese People, Finds Study

According to media reports, a new study has claimed that the Pfizer-BioNtech Covid-19 vaccine might be less effective on people who are obese. 

It must be noted that the study was carried out by a group of Italian researchers. The study suggested that obese healthcare workers who were administered the Covid-19 vaccine failed at producing as many antibodies as their healthy peers. The obese healthcare workers had only half the amount of antibodies that were produced by healthy workers after the administration of the second dose.

In accordance with the study conducted by Aldo Venuti, from the Istituti Fisioterapici Ospitalieri, 99.5% of these healthcare workers had developed an antibody response against the virus seven days after the second dose administration. However, the response was not what obese people witnessed after taking both the doses of the vaccine. 

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As per media reports, Aldo stated that as obesity is a big risk factor for morbidity and mortality for patients with coronavirus disease, it is significant to plan an efficient vaccination programme in this subgroup. He further emphasises that while further studies may be needed, data from this study has important implications to the development of vaccination strategies for Covid-19, particularly in the case of obese individuals. 

Also Venuti also stated that if the data was to be confirmed by larger studies, there may be a need of giving obese people an extra dose of the vaccine or a higher dose against the coronavirus disease. 

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Disclaimer: This article is issued in the general public interest and meant for general information purposes only. Readers are advised not to rely on the contents of the article as conclusive in nature and should research further or consult an expert in this regard.