PFAS exposure could hinder vaccine for hard-hit communities
“Exposure to toxic “forever” chemicals could hinder the effectiveness of a COVID-19 vaccine, with outsize implications for some communities and workers. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) — a family of thousands of toxic chemicals found in an array of everyday household items — have been shown to weaken immune systems. They have also been linked to decreased antibody production in people given certain vaccines. Environmental and public health groups worry that could have implications for recipients of a long-awaited coronavirus vaccine, particularly for some people of color and essential workers.”