Living with conditions like certain blood cancers, neurological disorders, or rheumatic diseases often requires medications that dampen the immune system. While these drugs are vital for managing disease, they can also change how the body responds to vaccines. This analysis looked at how specific treatments affect the antibodies people build after getting an mRNA shot.
Researchers found that people on B-cell depletion therapy had a 54.5-fold reduction in binding antibodies compared to healthy people. Those taking S1P inhibitors saw a 24.8-fold reduction. While antibody levels are linked to how well a vaccine prevents infection or hospitalization, the data shows that people on these medications had lower protection overall than those without them.
It is important to note that these findings are based on a comparison of antibody levels and predicted effectiveness. Because these medications are designed to quiet the immune system, the body may not mount the same defense against a virus. Patients on these specific therapies should talk to their doctors about their specific vaccination plan.
