Latest news with #Pfizer-BioNTechCOVID-19
Daily Record
21-07-2025
- Health
- Daily Record
Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine linked to eye problems that could damage vision in new study
Researchers looked at how the vaccine affected patients' corneas - the clear front part of the eye that allows light to come in Scientists have found that Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine may increase the risk of serious eye damage, potentially leading to loss of sight, according to a recent study. The new research conducted by Turkish scientists specifically examined how the jab affected patients' corneas - the transparent front part of the eye that lets light in. In 64 subjects, changes in the inner layer of the cornea, known as the endothelium, were measured before receiving the first Pfizer dose and two months after the second. The results indicated that having two doses of the vaccine led to thicker corneas, fewer endothelial cells in the eye, and more variation in the size of these specialised cells that form the endothelium. In the short term, these alterations suggest the Pfizer vaccine might temporarily weaken the endothelium, even though patients didn't experience noticeable vision problems during the study. For individuals with healthy eyes, these minor changes likely won't impact vision immediately. However, scientists stated that if these changes persist for years, they could result in corneal swelling or blurred vision, particularly in those with pre-existing eye conditions or individuals who have undergone a corneal transplant. A thicker cornea and reduced cell density may contribute to eye conditions like corneal oedema, bullous keratopathy, or corneal decompensation, which can all lead to permanent vision loss in severe cases, especially if left untreated, reports the Express. The researchers cautioned in the study, published Wednesday (July 16) in the journal Ophthalmic Epidemiology: "The endothelium should be closely monitored in those with a low endothelial count or who have had a corneal graft." Nevertheless, the team did not advise against the Pfizer jab and will still require long-term studies on additional patients' vision to determine if these alterations persist months and years following the injections. A representative from Pfizer UK stated they regarded the findings "very seriously". In a statement to the Express, they said: "Patient safety is paramount and we take any reports of adverse events very seriously. Adverse event reports do not imply causality, and in the context of vaccination such events may be unrelated to administration of the vaccine. "Hundreds of millions of doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine have been administered globally and the benefit-risk profile of the vaccine remains positive for all authorised indications and age groups. "As with every medicine and vaccine, including the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, Pfizer has robust processes to meet its regulatory responsibilities to closely monitor, report and analyse all adverse events, and collect relevant information to assess any new potential safety risks that may be associated with the COVID-19 vaccine." Pfizer said as well as their pharmacovigilance efforts and compliance with regulatory requirements related to quality and safety, they also work with regulatory authorities to independently monitor the safety profile of the vaccine. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. In any case, patients who receive the COVID-19 vaccine "should talk to their doctor, pharmacist or nurse if they have any concerns or experience any side effects" - including any possible side effects not listed in the package leaflet. "As with all medicines and vaccines... Pfizer has stringent procedures in place to fulfil its regulatory obligations to closely monitor, report, and analyse all adverse events, as well as gather pertinent information to evaluate any new potential safety risks that may be associated with the COVID-19 vaccine," the spokesperson added.
Time of India
19-07-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Pfizer COVID vaccine may cause serious eye damage, new study reveals
A recent study has raised concerns that the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine may cause subtle but potentially serious effects on the eye's cornea, particularly its innermost layer, the endothelium. Conducted by scientists in Turkey and published in the journal Ophthalmic Epidemiology, the research examined changes in the corneas of 64 patients before and after receiving both doses of the vaccine. While no immediate vision loss was reported, the study found that the vaccine led to thicker corneas, a reduced number of endothelial cells, and structural changes that could affect eye health over time. According to the Daily Mail, experts caution that while these changes may be harmless in the short term, they could pose risks for those with pre-existing eye conditions or corneal transplants. Pfizer COVID vaccine linked to corneal cell loss, swelling and altered structure Researchers found that the average thickness of the cornea increased from 528 to 542 micrometers after two Pfizer doses, a roughly 2 percent rise. The endothelial cell count, responsible for keeping the cornea clear, dropped by about 8 percent, from 2,597 to 2,378 cells per square millimeter. Though this remains within a safe range for healthy individuals, such a decline could pose serious risks for those with a low baseline count due to aging, eye surgeries, or diseases like Fuchs' dystrophy. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Hear better, live easier Amplifon Book Now Undo In addition, the study noted an increase in cell size variation (coefficient of variation), rising from 39 to 42, suggesting the corneal endothelium was under stress. The number of cells maintaining a healthy hexagonal shape also dropped from 50 percent to 48 percent. As Daily Mail reported, these signs may not immediately affect vision but could compromise the cornea's long-term clarity and function if they persist. Scientists urge caution but do not oppose vaccination The study, which analyzed 128 eyes using Sirius corneal topography and Tomey EM-4000 specular microscopy, does not recommend halting vaccination efforts. Rather, it calls for ongoing monitoring of corneal health in individuals with known eye vulnerabilities. The researchers emphasized that the changes observed might be temporary responses to stress or inflammation and could resolve over time. Still, they warned that 'the endothelium should be closely monitored in those with a low endothelial count or who have had a corneal graft,' especially if future studies confirm long-term damage. According to Daily Mail, this adds to existing concerns over rare side effects of mRNA vaccines, including myocarditis and pericarditis, particularly in younger men. The researchers plan to continue tracking participants to determine if these early corneal changes progress or stabilize over time.
India Today
29-04-2025
- Health
- India Today
Left or right arm? Study reveals why location of injecting the vaccine matters
Australian researchers have revealed that receiving a vaccine booster in the same arm as the original dose can trigger a quicker and more effective immune findings of their study, published in the journal Cell, were led by the Garvan Institute of Medical Research and the Kirby Institute at UNSW discovered that specialised immune cells, called macrophages, are 'primed' inside the lymph nodes nearest to the injection site after the first dose. These cells then help position memory B cells - a critical part of the immune system - to respond faster when a second dose is given in the same "This is a fundamental discovery in how the immune system organises itself to respond better to external threats. Nature has come up with this brilliant system and we're just now beginning to understand it," said Tri Phan from the Garvan VACCINE LOCATION MATTERSVaccines work by introducing a harmless form of a virus or bacteria into the body, teaching the immune system to recognise and fight the vaccine is administered, it travels to nearby lymph nodes - the body's immune training hubs. Memory B cells, which help produce antibodies when the body sees the same virus again, are often found in the lymph node closest to where the vaccine was injected. Vaccines work by introducing a harmless form of a virus or bacteria into the body, teaching the immune system to recognise and fight it. (Phot: Getty Images) advertisementUsing advanced imaging tools, researchers at Garvan found that these memory B cells move to the outer areas of the lymph node, where they interact with macrophages already trained by the first the booster is given in the same arm, the 'primed' macrophages quickly react and activate the memory B cells to produce stronger antibodies."Macrophages are known for clearing up infections, but here they're also organising the next immune response," said Rama Dhenni, co-author of the FROM CLINICAL TRIALSTo see if the effect was the same in humans, researchers conducted a study with 30 participants receiving the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. Those who got both doses in the same arm had faster and more effective antibody responses, especially in the first week after the second shot."These early antibodies were also better at neutralising variants like Delta and Omicron," said Dr Mee Ling Munier from the Kirby both groups had similar antibody levels by four weeks, scientists say that earlier protection could be critical during outbreaks."This simple strategy, using the same arm, might help build community-level protection faster," said Dr hope the findings will inform future vaccination strategies and possibly reduce the number of boosters needed.
Yahoo
28-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Why using the same arm for vaccines might boost the body's response
When it comes to getting the most out of a vaccine, arm consistency can make a difference. Some studies suggest that getting a booster in the same arm as the initial shot can boost the immune system's response. Now, we're getting clues as to why using the same arm for initial and booster doses might be better for activating the immune system's response to a vaccine. In a small study published April 28 in the journal Cell, researchers from Australia found that when a vaccine is given, specialized immune cells called macrophages prepare to fight inside lymph nodes. The macrophages then direct where memory B cells go to more effectively respond to the booster when it is given in the same arm. According to the team, the findings were made in mice and validated in human participants and offer enough evidence to refine how we approach vaccines. 'A unique and elegant aspect of this study is the team's ability to understand the rapid generation of effective vaccine responses,' Anthony Kelleher, a study co-author and clinician scientist at the Garvan Institute of Medical Research and the Kirby Institute at University of New South Wales Sydney, said in a statement. 'We did this by dissecting the complex biology in mice and then showed similar findings in humans. All this was done at the site of the generation of the vaccine response, the lymph node.' [ Related: New study: US could see millions of measles cases if vaccination rates keep dropping. ] During immunization, a harmless version of a pathogen called a vaccine antigen is introduced into the body. The antigen is then filtered through the lymph nodes. These work like immune system boot camps that train the body to fight off the real pathogen when and if they are confronted with it. Previously, the team from the study looked at memory B cells. These cells are crucial for generating antibody responses when infections return. They found that memory B cells tend to stay on the lymph node closest to the injection site. They migrate to the outer layer of the local lymph node and interact closely with the macrophages–those specialized immune cells primed for battle in the lymph nodes–that reside there. When a booster was given in the same location, those already-on-alert macrophages captured the antigen and activated the memory B cells more efficiently. In turn, this made high quality antibodies. 'Macrophages are known to gobble up pathogens and clear away dead cells, but our research suggests the ones in the lymph nodes closest to the injection site also play a central role in orchestrating an effective vaccine response the next time around. So location does matter,' study co-author and immunologist Rama Dhenni said in a statement. In this new study, the team conducted a clinical study with 30 volunteers receiving the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 mRNA vaccine. Ten of the participants received their booster dose in the same arm as their first dose. The other 10 were given the second shot in the opposite arm. According to the results, the group who received both doses in the same arm began producing neutralizing antibodies against the virus within the first week after the second dose. They also showed to be more effective against the potent Delta and Omicron COVID-19 variants. After four weeks, both groups had similar antibody levels. However, that early protection could be important during an outbreak. 'If you've had your COVID jabs in different arms, don't worry – our research shows that over time the difference in protection diminishes,' study co-author and immunologist Mee Ling Munier said in a statement. 'But during a pandemic, those first weeks of protection could make an enormous difference at a population level. The same-arm strategy could help achieve herd immunity faster – particularly important for rapidly mutating viruses where speed of response matters.' It's important to note that this study included a small sample size and other studies have found benefits in switching arms. In future research, the team hopes to build on this work to refine vaccination guidelines and enhance the effectiveness of vaccines. 'If we can understand how to replicate or enhance the interactions between memory B cells and these macrophages, we may be able to design next-generation vaccines that require fewer boosters,' Tri Phan, a study co-author and clinical immunologist, said in a statement. 'This is a fundamental discovery in how the immune system organises itself to respond better to external threats – nature has come up with this brilliant system and we're just now beginning to understand it.'
