Coronavirus: Will COVID-19 vaccines be less effective for people suffering from obesity?
Will COVID-19 vaccines be less effective for obese people?
The availability of a COVID-19 vaccine may be the light at the end of the tunnel for many, but it may not be as promising for everyone.
People suffering from obesity, for one, may still be vulnerable to COVID, with a vaccine. There are many researchers who believe that obesity, which is considered to be one of the biggest risk factors for COVID-19 may deter the efficacy and effectiveness of a COVID-19 vaccine right now.
2. The link between obesity and COVID-19
According to a recently published report on Nature, obese people present a ‘dull’ response and may not be able to mount sufficient antibodies. They can also have a delayed response, rendering COVID-19 vaccines ineffective on them.
For a high-risk group already vulnerable to the dangers of severe COVID-19, the development only sparks of more worries.
3. Why is obesity a grave concern?
Obesity, which has turned into a global lifestyle epidemic is a major health concern.
Obesity can be resultant of a heavily sedentary and inactive lifestyle, hormonal problems, medications, poor diet, genetics, triggered by diseases or some psychological factors.
According to WHO and World Obesity statistics, the public health problem continues to rise, with over 2 million people overweight and, or obese (accounting for roughly 13% of the world's population). With rates tripling since the 80s, obesity is also a problem which can stem into other hazardous risks, including diabetes, high blood pressure, stress, kidney disease- all equally risky and bad for COVID-19.
4. Does being obese impair your immunity?
The workability of a COVID-19 vaccine depends on how healthy your immune system is.
Obesity, as a medical problem can impact your immunity and its functioning.
In a condition like morbid obesity, acute inflammation can lead to a delayed, or deficient immune response. Apart from that, obesity is also linked to several other diseases and health risks which can compromise one’s immunity. Hence, in the lack of stable immunity, a vaccine may or may not work the same way on obese people, then it would on healthy people.
5. Obesity can cause low-grade inflammation in the body
Studies have also found that obese people may also have a higher than usual level of immune-regulating proteins in the body, also known as cytokines, which, in some cases can force the immune system to misinterpret signals and damage healthy cells and tissues.
Those with a higher BMI and obesity also more likely to die from COVID, no matter what their age. From challenges like difficult intubation (ventilator support), reduced lung capacity, insulin resistance and a high presence of ACE2 receptors also fuel risk.
6. Many vaccines don’t work well on obese people
Perhaps what worries doctors and epidemiologists is that it's not the first time a vaccine won't appeal to obese people. Apart from COVID-19, there are vaccines for a handful of other conditions which do not work well against obesity, including influenza, rabies, hepatitis-B.
7. What needs to be done right now to minimize the risk
While it’s too early to tell the exact percentage, or how grave the risks will be for people suffering from obesity, tackling the problem in the long haul will require a more exhaustive approach.
Some also believe that there need to be clinical trials which can help experts devise a more workable and efficient vaccine to protect them from risk. However, this can take a long time and may not offer a short-term solution. The use of adjuvants or different doses, such as the ones used on elderlies and immuno-compromised people may also help deliver a better response once they are vaccinated.
8. Take steps to correct your lifestyle right away
However, the real solution lies in overcoming obesity, which needs to be done on the ground level. From regular exercise, following a healthy processed-free diet, relieving stress levels and leading a less sedentary lifestyle can improve the quality of life and beat obesity.
As many say, this will be a wake-up call for people to overhaul and work on correcting their lifestyle.