NC study finds flu shot does not work for obese people
- Obese people have long been known to have a higher risk of flu death
- They are more susceptible to the virus, it penetrates more deeply into their lungs
- A new study found that obese adults, despite getting flu shots, remained twice as likely to develop the illness than healthy adults
Mia De Graaf For Dailymail.com
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A study on adults in North Carolina found that obese people, despite getting flu shots, remained twice as likely to develop the illness than healthy adults
The flu shot is less effective on obese adults, a new study warns.
Vaccines are the best form of protection against the influenza virus.
However, a study on adults in North Carolina found that obese people, despite getting flu shots, remained twice as likely to develop the illness than healthy adults.
The research team said it is likely due to the fact that the protective T cells of obese people do not function properly.
The study is one of the first to test the theory on adults, after scientists found it to be the case in mice.
Obesity has long been recognized as a factor that increases a person’s risk of dying from influenza.
Data show obese adults are more susceptible to the virus, which penetrates more deeply into their lungs, making it harder to repair the damage caused.
A study from a research team at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in the US found that to be true – and that the vaccine does little to help.
Lead author Scott Neidich compared 1022 adults from North Carolina who were healthy weight, overweight or obese.
They had all received the seasonal trivalent inactivated influenza vaccine during the 2013-2014 and 2014-2015 flu seasons.
Laboratory tests and symptom scores were used to confirm whether participants had the flu or a similar illness, and how well their body was fighting it after their shot.
In the case of obese participants, 9.8 percent of them had either confirmed influenza or influenza-like illnesses, compared with 5.1 percent of those of healthy weight.
‘Vaccinated obese adults are twice as likely to develop influenza and influenza-like illnesses compared to vaccinated healthy weight adults,’ said co-author Melinda Beck.
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The findings backed up the team’s previous research showing that obese people have impaired T cell responses to influenza vaccine.
As part of the study, serum samples were taken before and after participants received their shots.
These were used to compare the antibody levels in vaccinated participants who became ill despite having received the preventative measure.
The samples were tested using the Hemaglutination Inhibition Assay (HAI). This widely used test indicates how many antibodies have built up in the body to fight off an infection such as influenza, and is used to evaluate candidate influenza vaccines.
The researchers found no differences in the antibody counts between vaccinated participants who did not report any symptoms and those who did, or between obese participants or people of healthy weight.
The test was also unable to reliably predict whether a vaccinated obese person would have enough protection against influenza or not.
This finding challenges the current standard blood tests being used to indicate whether a person has enough protection against influenza or not.
According to Neidich, such tests could, especially in the case of obese people, ‘provide misleading information’.
The findings suggest that the effectiveness of influenza vaccines and other high-dose vaccine preparations should be reassessed for use in obese adults, to ensure that these provide accurate measurements.
‘Impaired cell functioning, despite the robust production of antibodies, may make vaccinated obese adults more susceptible to influenza infection,’ suggests Neidich.
‘Alternative approaches may be needed to protect obese adults from both seasonal and pandemic influenza virus infections.’
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