The immune response of seniors to vaccination against COVID-19 may be weaker, especially in eighty-year-olds, suggest preliminary research by German specialists. This was demonstrated on the example of a preparation from Pfizer and BioNTech.
Vaccines are generally less effective in older people than in young or middle-aged people. This is the case, for example, with flu vaccinations.
The immune response of seniors to vaccination against COVID-19 may also be weaker. This was confirmed by a study of 91 people under the age of 60 and another 85 people at least 80 years old. They all received the Pfizer / BioNTech vaccine.
The main author of the study, prof. Ortwin Adams, a virologist at the university hospital in Duesseldorf, reports on the website of the medical portal medRxiv that the oldest subjects reported a poorer response to vaccination. Seventeen days after the administration of two doses in 31 percent. In eighty-year-olds, no antibodies to neutralize the coronavirus were found. In the case of people under 60, it happened only in 2 percent. subjects. In the younger group, only 16 percent after the first dose. people showed the presence of neutralizing antibodies.
- Changes in the vaccination schedule. Why will seniors 70+ sign up last?
Prof. Ortwin Adams points out, however, that this does not mean that elderly people who have not yet responded to vaccination are not protected in any way from the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus. “Older people don’t have to worry that they will be at risk of serious complications if they become infected,” he says. A German specialist from the Institute of Virology cites observations in Israel, England and Scotland. In these countries, the elderly who have been vaccinated have significantly fewer hospitalizations and severe cases of COVID-19 compared to those who have not yet received the vaccine. Even after the first dose, there were fewer of these cases.
“It follows that the elderly should be vaccinated earlier than young people in order to obtain long-term protection” – emphasizes the German virologist.
Author: Zbigniew Wojtasiński
Read also:
- What preparation will people aged 60 – 65 be vaccinated with? MZ replies to letters
- The man died two days after vaccination. Expert: Such deaths can happen
- Obese people may be less responsive to the Pfizer vaccine. Will they get a higher dose?
The content of the medTvoiLokony website is intended to improve, not replace, the contact between the Website User and their doctor. The website is intended for informational and educational purposes only. Before following the specialist knowledge, in particular medical advice, contained on our Website, you must consult a doctor. The Administrator does not bear any consequences resulting from the use of information contained on the Website. Do you need a medical consultation or an e-prescription? Go to halodoctor.pl, where you will get online help – quickly, safely and without leaving your home.Now you can use e-consultation also free of charge under the National Health Fund.