Liver cirrhosis is associated with a lower immune response to COVID-19 vaccines but not with reduced vaccine efficacy (IMAGE)

Elsevier

Liver cirrhosis is associated with a lower immune response to COVID-19 vaccines but not with reduced vaccine efficacy

Caption

In patients with chronic liver disease (CLD) vaccinated with two-dose vaccines, age, cirrhosis and type of vaccine (Vaxzevria > Pfizer BioNTech > Moderna) predict a “lower” immunoglobulin G (IgG) response, while viral hepatitis etiology and prior antiviral therapy predict a “higher” IgG response. This differential response appears not to be associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection incidence or vaccine efficacy. Still, compared with Wuhan-Hu-1, immunity was lower for the delta and omicron variants, and all decreased after six months. As such, patients with CLD, particularly those older and with cirrhosis, should be prioritized for receiving booster doses and/or recently approved adapted vaccines.

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Simão, et al., JHEP Reports

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