Immunity in men after Pfizer shots weakens faster than in women: study
The immunity against coronavirus (Covid-19) weakens faster in men than women after the second dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, reports Hindustan Times quoting a new study published on New England Journal of Medicine.
The incidence of symptomatic Covid-19 has been increasing in Israel despite high vaccine coverage and effectiveness, prompting researchers to conduct the study on whether it is due to waning immunity after receiving two doses of Pfizer's BNT162b2 vaccine. More than 4,800 healthcare professionals participated in the 6-month longitudinal study.
The study found that the neutralising antibody level substantially decreased six months after the second dose of Pfizer vaccine, especially among participants 65 years of age or older.
It also suggested that neutralising antibody concentrations among persons 65 years of age or older were at a lower level than participants between 18 to 45 years of age.
The neutralising antibody concentrations were lower in men 65 years of age or older than women in the same age group. The neutralising antibody titers declined briskly in the period of up to 80 days after the second dose of the Covid-19 vaccine, but slowed afterwards, according to the study.
"Particularly vulnerable populations with lower neutralizing titers were older men and participants with immunosuppression," the authors wrote.
While obesity is associated with severe Covid-19, the authors said it is still unclear whether vaccinated obese persons are at higher or lower risk for breakthrough infection.
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