LONELINESS and social stresses can have a negative impact on the antibody response to Covid-19 vaccines, according to a new study.
Ground-breaking research by the University of Limerick has revealed for the first time that lower neighbourhood cohesion is associated with antibody response to coronavirus vaccines.
Researchers say it is important as the more antibodies a person makes, the better the level of protection against hospitalisation and death from the virus.
In a study published in the journal 'Brain, Behaviour and Immunity', they state that lower social cohesion made people feel lonelier and that this was an additional factor in reducing Covid-19 vaccine responses.
Lead author Professor Stephen Gallagher said that low social cohesion was "a social stressor and we have known for a long time that these psychosocial stressors can have damaging effects on immunity in general but also antibody responses following vaccination, which we have demonstrated previously".
"Thus, it made sense to explore antibody responses to Covid-19 vaccinations," he added.
Using data from over 600 people who took part in the UK’s Understanding Society Covid-19 antibody study in March 2021, the researchers examined whether factors such as social cohesion and loneliness had a negative impact on people’s antibody responses to the vaccine.
They found that lower social cohesion was predictive of a lower response to a single-shot of the Covid-19 vaccine; that those who felt less connected to their neighbourhood, had lower trust in their neighbours and felt unsupported or less similar to their neighbours, made fewer antibodies in comparison to those who reported higher social cohesion.
Those who reported lower social cohesion also tended to report that they felt lonelier, and this, in turn, reduced their antibody response.
Professor Orla Muldoon, a co-author of the paper, said the results highlight once again the relevance of public trust and social cohesion to the success of our pandemic response.
"Public and neighbourhood trust, social cohesion, and loneliness have all come to the fore during the pandemic," she said.
"For example, during the initial lockdowns a sense of being in it together was an oft used mantra. We had 'clap for carers' in the UK, Italians singing from balconies, Dubliners playing bingo in the flats, all of which increased social cohesion and public trust.
"These feelings of social cohesion and trust were short-lived; something UK researchers now call the ‘Dominic Cummings effect’.
"Similar diminishing levels of trust were also seen in the US during these periods. Along with this, lockdowns brought social risks such as less social interaction and an increased risk of loneliness.
"As well as the findings of this study showing their role in antibody responses, trust and cohesion have also been shown to drive compliance with public health guidelines and vaccine uptake."
