Decline of Anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG Antibody Levels 6 Months After Complete BNT162b2 Vaccination in Healthcare Workers to Levels Observed Following the First Vaccine Dose

Overview

Journal Vaccines (Basel)

Date 2022 Feb 26

PMID 35214612

Authors

Oktavija dakovic Rode

Kristian Bodulic

Sanja Zember

Natasa Cetinic Balent

Anda Novokmet

Marija culo

Zeljka Rasic

Radojka Mikulic

Alemka Markotic

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Research on post-vaccination antibody dynamics has become pivotal in estimating COVID-19 vaccine efficacy. We studied anti-SARS-CoV-2 Spike RBD IgG levels in 587 healthcare workers (2038 sera) who completed BNT162b2 vaccination. Average antibody titer 3 weeks after the first dose in COVID-19-naïve participants (median 873.5 AU/mL) was 18-fold higher than the test threshold, with a significant increase 1 month (median 9927.2 AU/mL) and an exponential decrease 3 (median 2976.7 AU/mL) and 6 (median 966.0 AU/mL) months after complete vaccination. Participants with a history of COVID-19 prior to vaccination showed significantly higher antibody levels, particularly after the first dose (median 14,280.2 AU/mL), with a slight decline 1 month (median 12,700.0 AU/mL) and an exponential decline in antibody titers 3 (median 4831.0 AU/mL) and 6 (median 1465.2 AU/mL) months after vaccination. Antibody levels of COVID-19-naïve subjects after the first dose were moderately correlated with age ( = -0.4). Multivariate analysis showed a strong independent correlation between IgG levels 6 months after vaccination and both IgG titers after the first dose and 1 month after vaccination ( = 0.709). Regardless of pre-vaccination COVID-19 history, IgG levels 6 months after vaccination were comparable to antibody levels reached by COVID-19-naïve participants after the first vaccine dose.

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