PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — As many as 60 million Americans are taking medications that could influence just how well the COVID-19 vaccine works for them.
Immunosuppressive drugs are designed to fight a wide variety of illnesses. The most commonly used immunosuppressives are corticosteroids. The thought is that these drugs reduce the body’s ability to make antibodies from the vaccine.
Antibodies are like little soldiers that go out and attack the virus and make it less aggressive. The problem is that the studies done on the vaccines did not include people on immunosuppressive drugs.
Scientists are studying the response in real time. For instance, people who take drugs for illnesses like Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis have lots of antibodies, but organ transplant patients don’t have as many.
In addition, positive cases may occur but tend to be less severe. In other words, this vaccine definitely helps but may not be quite as effective in that group.
KYW Newsradio’s Medical Reports are sponsored by Independence Blue Cross.