Pfizer vaccine produces ‘off the scale’ immune response, study finds

The Pfizer vaccine against coronavirus provides a high level of protection in older people and will work against new variants including the Brazilian version, a study has found.

Research by the University of Birmingham and Public Health England’s Porton Down laboratory tracked the immune response in people aged over 80.

Scientists said the vaccine delivered an “off the scale” immune response among recipients which meant it was likely to work against multiple variants of the virus.

The research, which is the biggest Pfizer study on antibody and cellular immune factors to date, found 98 per cent of people aged 80 or over who had two doses of the Pfizer jab had a strong antibody immune response.