ABSTRACT
The third, "booster", vaccination increases the overall immune response against SARS-CoV-2 variants. However, after the initial peak at around 3 weeks post-vaccination, anti-spike antibody levels decline. Post-booster kinetics of cellular response has been less investigated and there is no documented evidence of a true boosting effect. Furthermore, multiple studies underline the less effective immune responses against Omicron, the latest variant of concern, at both humoral and cellular levels. In this letter, we analyse humoral (anti-RBD IgG levels) and cellular (IFN-γ release assay) immune response in 205 health care workers 3 weeks and 3 months after administration of an mRNA-based booster dose, either mRNA-1273 or BNT162b2. Since all subjects were SARS-CoV-2 infection-naïve, we also looked at the incidence of Omicron infection between 3 and 6 months post-booster.At both timepoints, 3x mRNA-1273 vaccination had the highest overall antibody and IFN-γ levels, followed by 3x BNT162b2 vaccination and heterologous mRNA-based regimens. Heterologous ChAdOx1-mRNA-based regimen had the lowest antibody levels while cellular response equal to that of 3x BNT162b2 vaccination and heterologous mRNA-based regimens. Our results show that both humoral and cellular responses waned at 3 months for all vaccination regimens. However, we identified three trajectories of dosage variation. Interestingly, the subgroup of subjects with increasing anti-RBD IgG levels over time had a lower incidence of Omicron infection. Whether increasing humoral response at 3 months post-booster is more indicative of protection than a high initial peak remains to be confirmed in a larger cohort.
Subject(s)
BNT162 Vaccine , COVID-19 , Humans , 2019-nCoV Vaccine mRNA-1273 , COVID-19/prevention & control , SARS-CoV-2 , RNA, Messenger , Vaccination , Immunoglobulin G , Antibodies, ViralABSTRACT
Clinical trials and real-world evidence on COVID-19 vaccines have shown their effectiveness against severe disease and death but the durability of protection remains unknown. We analysed the humoral and T-cell immune responses in 110 healthcare workers (HCWs) vaccinated according to the manufacturer's recommended schedule of dose 2 three weeks after dose 1 from a prospective on-going cohort in early 2021, 3 and 6 months after full vaccination with the BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine. Anti-RBD IgG titres were lower in HCWs over 60 years old 3 months after the second dose (p=0.03) and declined in all the subjects between 3 and 6 months with a median percentage change of -58.5%, irrespective of age and baseline comorbidities. Specific T-cell response measured by IGRA declined over time by at least 42% (median) in 91 HCWs and increased by 33% (median) in 17 others. Six HCWs had a negative T-cell response at 6 months. Ongoing follow-up should provide correlates of long-term protection according to the different immune response profiles observed. COVIDIM study was registered under the number NCT04896788 on clinicaltrials.gov.
Subject(s)
COVID-19 , SARS-CoV-2 , Antibodies, Viral , BNT162 Vaccine , COVID-19/prevention & control , COVID-19 Vaccines , Health Personnel , Hospitals , Humans , Immunity, Cellular , Middle Aged , Vaccination , Vaccines, Synthetic , mRNA VaccinesABSTRACT
Clinical trials and real-world evidence on COVID-19 vaccines have shown their effectiveness against severe disease and death but the durability of protection remains unknown. We analysed the humoral and T-cell immune responses in 110 healthcare workers (HCWs) vaccinated according to the manufacturer’s recommended schedule of dose 2 three weeks after dose 1 from a prospective on-going cohort in early 2021, 3 and 6 months after full vaccination with the BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine. Anti-RBD IgG titres were lower in HCWs over 60 years old 3 months after the second dose (p=0.03) and declined in all the subjects between 3 and 6 months with a median percentage change of -58.5%, irrespective of age and baseline comorbidities. Specific T-cell response measured by IGRA declined over time by at least 42% (median) in 91 HCWs and increased by 33% (median) in 17 others. Six HCWs had a negative T-cell response at 6 months. Ongoing follow-up should provide correlates of long-term protection according to the different immune response profiles observed. COVIDIM study was registered under the number NCT04896788 on clinicaltrials.gov.