COVID‐19 Vaccination and Obesity: Optimism and Challenges

Abstract

Researchers have speculated that vaccines to prevent coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) may be less effective for individuals with obesity, a major risk factor for mortality and morbidity from COVID-19. Initial results from the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccine trials, though limited by inadequate power to compare subgroups and incomplete stratification of high-risk groups, appear to have similar efficacy among individuals with and without obesity. Careful follow-up in placebo-controlled studies is required to generate data on long-term vaccine immunogenicity, particularly in high-risk groups. Subsequent analyses should stratify safety and efficacy results by each class of obesity. Speculation about variable effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines in obesity likely increases vaccine hesitancy among individuals with obesity, who face not only a higher risk of severe outcomes from COVID-19 but also weight stigma, which reduces health care engagement at baseline. Clinical and public health messaging must be data driven, transparent, and sensitive to these biological and sociological vulnerabilities.

The negative impact of obesity on the occurrence and prognosis of the 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19) disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis

“…In conclusion, obesity was associated with the occurrence and poor prognosis of COVID-19. As the main concern is that vaccines might be less effective for obese people [ 82 ], more attention should be paid to prevent and treat COVID-19 in obese patients.…”

Cross-National Variations in COVID-19 Mortality: The Role of Diet, Obesity and Depression

“…However, potential strategies of interest may include: the provision of information regarding COVID-19 preventive measures in a clear manner, without causing undue alarm [90,91]; the provision of brief psychological interventions and lifestyle advice using remote technologies or mobile applications [92]; the initiation or continuation of antidepressant therapy for patients with depression, which may have antiviral properties over and above its beneficial psychological effects [93][94][95]; and the use of dietary or nutraceuticalbased interventions for those with obesity [96]. Considering the higher risk of adverse outcomes in patients with these disorders, they should be encouraged to receive immunization and assisted in accessing it; however, a note of caution is justified given the concerns for reduced host immune responses in these disorders [97,98]. More detailed discussions of some of these strategies are available in published reviews [99,100].…”

COVID-19 und Adipositas – Daten, potenzielle Mechanismen und klinische Implikationen

“…Bezüglich der Wirksamkeit von Impfungen bei Menschen mit Adipositas gab es einige wissenschaftliche Spekulationen, welche eine reduzierte Wirksamkeit bzw. einen reduzierten Impfschutz nahelegten [10][11][12]. Hintergrund dieser Spekulationen waren einerseits pathophysiologische Überlegungen auf Grundlage der bekannten Adipositas-assoziierten immunologischen Dysfunktionen, andererseits frühere Beobachtungen einer veränderten Immunantwort auf andere Impfungen wie z.…”