Vasiliki Efthymiou (Greece)
National and Kapodistrian University of Athens University Research Institute for Maternal and Child Health and Precision Medicine, Athens, GreeceAuthor Of 2 Presentations
IMMUNOGENICITY OF THE BNT162B2 COVID-19 VACCINE IN PEDIATRIC AND YOUNG ADULT PATIENTS WITH CYSTIC FIBROSIS
Abstract
Backgrounds:
Cystic fibrosis (CF) patients constitute a high-risk group for severe COVID-19. We prospectively measured total (TAbs-RBD; U/ml) and neutralizing (NAbs-RBD; %) antibodies of SARS-CoV-2 spike-RBD protein before immunization, 20 days after the 1st and 30 days after the 2nd dose of the BNT162b2 vaccine in CF patients and healthy controls.
Methods
Serum samples were tested using the Elecsys® Anti-SARS-CoV-2 S reagent. Values of ≥0.8 U/ml are positive. The determination of anti-RBD neutralization titers was carried out using the Food and Drug Administration(FDA) approved blocking ELISA cPassTM SARS-CoV-2 neutralization antibody detection kit. Percentages of ≥ 30% were positive. A statistical analysis was performed for the comparison of the two groups and the possible association of antibody levels with epidemiological and clinical parameters.
Results:
A total of 33 patients with CF and 66 healthy controls were included in the study. The median age (IQR) of the CF group was 19.6 (17.6-24.3) years and 18 (54.5%) were females. CF patients had statistically significant higher antibody responses regarding TAbs-RBD and NAbs-RBD after both doses (P-value<0.001). One month after the 2nd dose, CF and controls had TAbs-RBD (IQR): 3396 (2443) and 1452 (1231) U/ml, respectively. Similarly, the NAbs-RBD (%) were: 97.30 (1.00) and 95.70 (3.71) (%), respectively. Among CF patients no statistically significant differences were detected for TAbs-RBD or NAbs-RBD regarding gender, pancreatic status, CFTR genotype of CF, use of CFTR modulators and chronic Pseudomonas Aeruginosa infection.
Conclusions/Learning Points:
The BNT162b2 vaccine was more immunogenic in patients with CF patients compared to healthy controls regardless of the CFTR genotype, related comorbidities, treatment type or severity of disease. Longitudinal studies regarding the kinetics of antibodies will be important to determine the appropriate timing for a booster dose in this population.
TOTAL AND NEUTRALIZING SARS-COV-2 SPIKE ANTIBODIES ONE, FOUR AND EIGHT MONTHS AFTER BNT162B2 IMMUNIZATION IN HEALTHCARE WORKERS FROM A MAJOR TERTIARY PEDIATRIC HOSPITAL
Abstract
Backgrounds:
Long-term data regarding the association of antibody levels after immunization with the BNT162b2 mRNA COVID-19 vaccine with epidemiological and clinical parameters are limited. We prospectively measured the total(TAbs) and neutralizing antibodies(NAbs) against the receptor binding domain(RBD) of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein in healthcare workers(HCWs) 1, 4 and 8 months after the 2nd dose of the BNT162b2 vaccine.
Methods
Serum samples from 462 HCWs of ‘‘Aghia Sophia’’ Children’s Hospital, Greece were collected and tested for TAbs-RBD using the Elecsys® Anti-SARS-CoV-2 S reagent and for NAbs-RBD using the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved blocking ELISA cPassTM SARS-CoV-2 neutralization antibody detection kit. A statistical analysis for possible association of antibodies’ levels with epidemiological and clinical parameters was performed.
Results:
The mean age (±SD) of the participants was 48.33 years (± 12.98) and 361(77.1%) were females. No significant differences in TAbs-RBD and NAbs-RBD were detected regarding gender and history of autoimmune diseases. A statistically significant negative association of NAbs-RBD was detected for age (β=-0.046, P<0.001). Smokers had significantly lower TAbs-RBD and NAbs-RBD (P<0.05) than non-smokers in each time-point of the study. TAbs-RBD in HCWs with underlying diseases significantly declined in all time points (P=0.005). HCWs with allergies showed higher TAbs-RBD in 1 and 4 months after the 2nd dose (P=0.003 and P=0.008 respectively). HCWs with AB blood type had lower TAbs-RBD than the other blood types in all time-points (P=0.044), especially 4 months after the 2nd dose (P=0.014).
Conclusions/Learning Points:
A significant gradual decline in TAbs and NAbs was detected within the first 8 months after the 2nd dose. Our findings support that older age and smoking negatively affect antibody levels, thus the administration of a booster dose in those groups is highly recommended.