Immunogenicity of Co-Administered Omicron BA.4/BA.5 Bivalent COVID-19 and Quadrivalent Seasonal Influenza Vaccines in Israel during the 2022–2023 Winter Season
Stephen Moss,
Menucha Jurkowicz,
Ital Nemet,
Nofar Atari,
Limor Kliker,
Bayan Abd-Elkader,
Tal Gonen,
Emily Toth Martin,
Yaniv Lustig,
Gili Regev-Yochay,
Michal Mandelboim
Affiliations
Stephen Moss
Department of Epidemiology, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
Menucha Jurkowicz
Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 5265601, Israel
Ital Nemet
Central Virology Laboratory, Ministry of Health, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Ramat Gan 5266202, Israel
Nofar Atari
Central Virology Laboratory, Ministry of Health, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Ramat Gan 5266202, Israel
Limor Kliker
Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 5265601, Israel
Bayan Abd-Elkader
Central Virology Laboratory, Ministry of Health, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Ramat Gan 5266202, Israel
Tal Gonen
Infection Prevention & Control Unit, Sheba Medical Center, Ramat Gan 5262504, Israel
Emily Toth Martin
Department of Epidemiology, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
Yaniv Lustig
Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 5265601, Israel
Gili Regev-Yochay
Infection Prevention & Control Unit, Sheba Medical Center, Ramat Gan 5262504, Israel
Michal Mandelboim
Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 5265601, Israel
Vaccination against COVID-19 and influenza provides the best defense against morbidity and mortality. Administering both vaccines concurrently may increase vaccination rates and reduce the burden on the healthcare system. This study evaluated the immunogenicity of healthcare workers in Israel who were co-administered with the Omicron BA.4/BA.5 bivalent COVID-19 vaccine and the 2022–2023 quadrivalent influenza vaccine. SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibody titers were measured via microneutralization while influenza antibody titers were measured via hemagglutination inhibition. No immunogenic interference was observed by either vaccine when co-administered. Antibody titers against SARS-CoV-2 variants increased significantly in the cohort receiving the COVID-19 vaccine alone and in combination with the influenza vaccine. Antibody titers against the A/H1N1 influenza strain increased significantly in the cohort receiving the influenza vaccine alone and in combination with the COVID-19 vaccine. Antibody titers against B/Victoria increased significantly in the cohort that received both vaccines. This study has important public health implications for the 2023–2024 winter season, and supports co-administration of both vaccines as a viable immunization strategy.
