SARS-CoV-2 Antibody Dynamics in Healthcare Workers after mRNA Vaccination

Abstract

Since the emergence of SARS-CoV-2, maintaining healthcare worker (HCW) health and safety has been fundamental to responding to the global pandemic. Vaccination with mRNA-base vaccines targeting SARS-CoV-2 spike protein has emerged as a key strategy in reducing HCW susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2, however, neutralizing antibody responses subside with time and may be influenced by many variables. We sought to understand the dynamics between vaccine products, prior clinical illness from SARS-CoV-2, and incidence of vaccine-associated adverse reactions on antibody decay over time in HCWs at a university medical center. A cohort of 296 HCWs received standard two-dose vaccination with either bnt162b2 (Pfizer/BioNTech) or mRNA-1273 (Moderna) and were evaluated after two, six, and nine months. Subjects were grouped by antibody decay curve into steep antibody decliners gentle decliners. Vaccination with mRNA-1273 led to more sustained antibody responses compared to bnt162b2. Subjects experiencing vaccine-associated symptoms were more likely to experience a more prolonged neutralizing antibody response. Subjects with clinical SARS-CoV-2 infection prior to vaccination were more likely to experience vaccination-associated symptoms after first vaccination and were more likely to have a more blunted antibody decay. Understanding factors associated with vaccine efficacy may assist clinicians in determining appropriate vaccine strategies in HCWs.

Ancestral SARS‐CoV‐2 and Omicron BA.5‐specific neutralizing antibody and T‐cell responses after Omicron bivalent booster vaccination in previously infected and infection‐naive individuals

“…In this current study, a recent Omicron BA.5 infection was not associated with statistically significant higher anti‐RBD concentrations, although the recently infected HCWs had 3‐fold higher anti‐RBD IgG median concentrations than infection‐naive HCWs. Nevertheless, all HCWs had detectable anti‐RBD IgG antibodies, which is in line with other studies showing waning but yet sustained anti‐RBD antibodies levels up to 9 months after mRNA vaccinations 17–19 …”

“…Nevertheless, all HCWs had detectable anti-RBD IgG antibodies, which is in line with other studies showing waning but yet sustained anti-RBD antibodies levels up to 9 months after mRNA vaccinations. [17][18][19] Protection against reinfection is considered to be reduced against the Omicron variant in comparison to previous SARS-CoV-2 variants. 20 The proportion of HCWs who were considered positive for the presence of Omicron BA.5 nABs was increased in both prior-infected groups, and inhibition activity was substantially higher in the recently…”

Ancestral SARS-CoV-2 and Omicron BA.5-specific neutralizing antibody and T cell responses after Omicron bivalent booster vaccination in previously infected and infection-naive individuals

“…Nevertheless, all HCWs had detectable anti-RBD IgG antibodies, which is in line with other studies showing waning but yet sustained anti-RBD antibodies levels up to nine months after mRNA vaccinations. [17][18][19] Protection against reinfection is considered to be reduced against the Omicron variant in comparison to previous SARS-CoV-2 variants. 20 The proportion of HCWs who were considered positive for the presence of Omicron BA.5 nABs was increased in both prior-infected groups, and inhibition activity was substantially higher in the recently Omicron BA.5 infected individuals.…”

The more symptoms the better? Covid-19 vaccine side effects and long-term neutralizing antibody response

“…Indeed, in the present study, we observed a relationship between vaccination-induced change in skin temperature and nAB that was a stronger predictor of the 6-month than the 1-month outcome. There are a few other reports examining the association between reactogenicity to SARS-CoV-2 vaccination and subsequent nAB, but interpretability is limited due to low samples sizes (4 to 8 per condition), 22 the analysis only of nAB trajectories over time, 23 which are confounded by absolute levels given that higher decay rates correlate with higher initial levels, 11 and the use of a mixed sample of mRNA and adenoviral vector vaccine recipients. 24 There are several key strengths of our study compared to the previous large studies.…”

“…By contrast, the presence of at least one systemic symptom was associated with higher nAB at 12-19 days after dose two (10) and at 54 days after dose three (9). There are a few other reports examining the association between reactogenicity to SARS-CoV-2 vaccination and subsequent nAB, but interpretability is limited due to low samples sizes (4 to 8 per condition) (19), the analysis only of nAB trajectories over time (20), which are confounded by absolute initial levels (11), and the use of a mixed sample of mRNA and adenoviral vector vaccine recipients (21).…”