Does smoking have an impact on the immunological response to COVID-19 vaccines? Evidence from the VASCO study and need for further studies.

"Competing interests R.P. is a full tenured professor of Internal Medicine at the University of Catania (Italy) and Medical Director of the Institute for Internal Medicine and Clinical Immunology at the same University. In relation to his recent work in the area of respiratory diseases, clinical immunology, and tobacco control, R.P. has received lecture fees and research funding from 10.13039/100004319Pfizer, 10.13039/100004330GlaxoSmithKline, CV Therapeutics, NeuroSearch A/S, Sandoz, MSD, Boehringer Ingelheim, 10.13039/100004336Novartis, Duska Therapeutics, and 10.13039/100005632Forest Laboratories. Lecture fees from a number of European EC industry and trade associations (including FIVAPE in France and FIESEL in Italy) were directly donated to vaper advocacy no-profit organizations. R.P. has also received grants from 10.13039/501100000780European Commission initiatives (U-BIOPRED and AIRPROM) and from the Integral Rheumatology & Immunology Specialists Network (IRIS) initiative. He has also served as a consultant for Pfizer, Global Health Alliance for treatment of tobacco dependence, CV Therapeutics, Boehringer Ingelheim, Novartis, Duska Therapeutics, ECITA (Electronic Cigarette Industry Trade Association, in the UK), Arbi Group Srl. and Health Diplomats. R.P. has served on the Medical and Scientific Advisory Board of Cordex Pharma, Inc., CV Therapeutics, Duska Therapeutics Inc, Pfizer and PharmaCielo. R.P. is also founder of the Center for Tobacco Prevention and Treatment at the University of Catania and of the Center of Excellence for the acceleration of Harm Reduction at the same University, which has received support from Foundation for a Smoke-Free World to conduct eight independent investigator-initiated research projects on harm reduction. R.P. is also currently involved in the following pro bono activities: scientific advisor for LIAF, Lega Italiana Antifumo (Italian acronym for Italian Anti-Smoking League), the Consumer Advocates for Smoke-free Alternatives, and the International Network of Nicotine Consumers Organizations; Chair of the European Technical Committee for standardization on ‘Requirements and test methods for emissions of electronic cigarettes’ (CEN/TC 437; WG4). All other authors declare no conflicts of interest."

"Funding This research received no external funding."