Evaluation of antibody kinetics and durability in healthy individuals vaccinated with inactivated COVID-19 vaccine (CoronaVac): A cross-sectional and cohort study in Zhejiang, China.

Background: Although inactivated COVID-19 vaccines are proven to be safe and effective in the general population, the dynamic response and duration of antibodies after vaccination in the real world should be further assessed. Methods: We enrolled 1067 volunteers who had been vaccinated with one or two doses of CoronaVac in Zhejiang Province, China. Another 90 healthy adults without previous vaccinations were recruited and vaccinated with three doses of CoronaVac, 28 days and 6 months apart. Serum samples were collected from multiple timepoints and analyzed for specific IgM/IgG and neutralizing antibodies (NAbs) for immunogenicity evaluation. Antibody responses to the Delta and Omicron variants were measured by pseudovirus-based neutralization tests. Results: Our results revealed that binding antibody IgM peaked 14-28 days after one dose of CoronaVac, while IgG and NAbs peaked approximately 1 month after the second dose then declined slightly over time. Antibody responses had waned by month 6 after vaccination and became undetectable in the majority of individuals at 12 months. Levels of NAbs to live SARS-CoV-2 were correlated with anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG and NAbs to pseudovirus, but not IgM. Homologous booster around 6 months after primary vaccination activated anamnestic immunity and raised NAbs 25.5-fold. The neutralized fraction subsequently rose to 36.0% for Delta (p=0.03) and 4.3% for Omicron (p=0.004), and the response rate for Omicron rose from 7.9% (7/89)-17.8% (16/90). Conclusions: Two doses of CoronaVac vaccine resulted in limited protection over a short duration. The inactivated vaccine booster can reverse the decrease of antibody levels to prime strain, but it does not elicit potent neutralization against Omicron; therefore, the optimization of booster procedures is vital. Funding: Key Research and Development Program of Zhejiang Province; Key Program of Health Commission of Zhejiang Province/ Science Foundation of National Health Commission; Major Program of Zhejiang Municipal Natural Science Foundation; Explorer Program of Zhejiang Municipal Natural Science Foundation.

Detection of serum antibody levels after inoculation of an inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccine / 预防医学

Objective @#To investigate the serum levels of antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 after inoculation of an inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccine, so as to provide insights into the evaluation of the vaccine immunogenicity. @*Methods @#In this single-arm Objective performance criteria trial, residents aged 18 to 59 years and inoculated with an inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccine in Xihu District, Hangzhou City from October to December of 2020 were selected using a cluster sampling method. Blood samples were collected prior to inoculation, 14 and 28 days post-inoculation of the first dose, and 28 days post-inoculation of the second dose. Serum levels of anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgM and IgG antibodies were detected using the magnetic particle-based chemiluminescence immunoassay. The seroconversion of antibodies and dynamic changes of antibody levels were analyzed.@*Results @#Totally 310 participants were enrolled, including 133 subjects on day 14 post-inoculation of the first dose, 97 subjects on day 28 post-inoculation of the first dose and 254 subjects on day 28 post-inoculation of the second dose. The seroconversion rates of anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibody were 6.02%, 28.87% and 98.43%, and the median IgG antibody levels were 1.76 ( interquartile range, 3.25 ), 5.69 ( 9.95 ) and 52.05 ( 47.60 ) AU/mL ( P<0.05 ), respectively, while the seroconversion rates of anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgM antibody were 9.02%, 11.34% and 12.99%, and the median IgG antibody levels were 1.89 ( 3.28 ), 2.06 ( 4.71 ) and 2.65 ( 4.01 ) AU/mL ( P>0.05 ), respectively. In addition, higher serum levels of anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG and IgM antibodies were detected post-inoculation relative to pre-inoculation ( P<0.05 ), and higher serum IgG antibody levels were found in subjects aged 18 to 39 years than in those aged 40 to 59 years ( P<0.05 ). @*Conclusions @#Inoculation of two doses of the inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccine achieves a high immunogenicity among residents aged 18 to 59 years 28 days post-inoculation, and the anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgM antibody is detectable in some residents following inoculation of the first dose.