Increases the risk of reinfection with SARS-COV-2. New findings by scientists
Specialists in various fields have been dealing with the coronavirus for a long time. They are trying to understand the mechanism of action of the pathogen to better prevent infection and reduce the negative effects related to the changes that COVID-19 causes in the body. Recently, scientists from the University of Queensland made a new discovery. They indicate a new factor that exposes people to coronavirus reinfection.
The experts decided to take a closer look at the relationships between BMI (Body Mass Index) and the body’s immune response to SARS-COV-2 infection. Check out what exactly they found out.
Overweight and obesity and SARS-COV-2 infection
Previous research conducted by a team from the University of Queensland showed that overweight and obesity influence the course of SARS-COV-2 infection. Patients with extra kilos have a harder time going through it than people with optimal body weight. Now scientists have gone a step further and checked whether there is a relationship between the factors mentioned above and the immune response to infection. The study recruited volunteers who tested positive for coronavirus in early 2020. Blood samples were collected from them at two time points – 3 and 13 months after infection. Participants were also divided into groups according to BMI (Body Mass Index).
As it turned out? Increased BMI (in relation to generally accepted norms for age and gender) is related to a lower level of antibodies against SARS-COV-2, as well as their weaker activity. This means that overweight and obese people are more vulnerable to re-infection. Therefore, they should remember to undergo regular vaccinations.
– We suggest that more personalized recommendations be created for overweight and obese people, both in terms of current treatment of COVID-19 and future pandemics. The results of the conducted research indicate that it is worth striving to improve protective preparations and vaccination procedures against SARS-COV-2 in low-income countries where there is a high percentage of overweight people – emphasize the authors of the analyses.
Vaccinations against COVID-19
Today, December 6, 2023, vaccinations with a new preparation against COVID-19 started. The new vaccine has been adapted to the Kraken variant. It can be taken as the next dose in the already started vaccination cycle. What should I do to take the new vaccine? You must register via the Internet Patient Account (IKP) or e-Registration or in person – at a primary health care facility or pharmacy. A detailed list of registration points is available on the website of the Ministry of Health (pacjent.gov.pl/). A referral for vaccination in electronic form will be generated automatically.
The new anti-COVID-19 preparation can be taken by both adults and children (over 12 years of age). At least six months must have passed since the last vaccination. People who have not been vaccinated yet receive two doses of the preparation three weeks apart.
