Levels and durability of neutralizing antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 Omicron and other variants after ChAdOx-1 or BNT162b2 booster in CoronaVac-primed elderly individuals
Nuchjira Takheaw,
Chalerm Liwsrisakun,
Witida Laopajon,
Supansa Pata,
Warawut Chaiwong,
Juthamas Inchai,
Pilaiporn Duangjit,
Chaicharn Pothirat,
Chaiwat Bumroongkit,
Athavudh Deesomchok,
Theerakorn Theerakittikul,
Atikun Limsukon,
Pattraporn Tajarernmuang,
Nutchanok Niyatiwatchanchai,
Konlawij Trongtrakul,
Watchara Kasinrerk
Affiliations
Nuchjira Takheaw
Division of Clinical Immunology, Department of Medical Technology, Faculty of Associated Medical Sciences, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand; Biomedical Technology Research Center, National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, National Science and Technology Development Agency at the Faculty of Associated Medical Sciences, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
Chalerm Liwsrisakun
Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Allergy, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
Witida Laopajon
Division of Clinical Immunology, Department of Medical Technology, Faculty of Associated Medical Sciences, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand; Biomedical Technology Research Center, National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, National Science and Technology Development Agency at the Faculty of Associated Medical Sciences, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
Supansa Pata
Division of Clinical Immunology, Department of Medical Technology, Faculty of Associated Medical Sciences, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand; Biomedical Technology Research Center, National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, National Science and Technology Development Agency at the Faculty of Associated Medical Sciences, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
Warawut Chaiwong
Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Allergy, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
Juthamas Inchai
Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Allergy, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
Pilaiporn Duangjit
Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Allergy, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
Chaicharn Pothirat
Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Allergy, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
Chaiwat Bumroongkit
Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Allergy, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
Athavudh Deesomchok
Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Allergy, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
Theerakorn Theerakittikul
Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Allergy, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
Atikun Limsukon
Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Allergy, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
Pattraporn Tajarernmuang
Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Allergy, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
Nutchanok Niyatiwatchanchai
Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Allergy, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
Konlawij Trongtrakul
Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Allergy, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
Watchara Kasinrerk
Division of Clinical Immunology, Department of Medical Technology, Faculty of Associated Medical Sciences, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand; Biomedical Technology Research Center, National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, National Science and Technology Development Agency at the Faculty of Associated Medical Sciences, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand; Corresponding author. Division of Clinical Immunology, Department of Medical Technology, Faculty of Associated Medical Sciences, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand.
The outbreak of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant raised the need for vaccine boosting. We evaluated the efficiency of the third booster vaccine, ChAdOx-1 or BNT162b2, in causing a neutralizing antibody (NAb) response and its durability against the Omicron and other variants in elderly individuals previously vaccinated with 2-dose CoronaVac inactivated vaccine. After receiving 2-dose CoronaVac, only 2.2% of subjects had NAbs against the Omicron variant above the cut-off value. Four weeks after boosting, the number of subjects who had NAb levels above the cut-off values in the ChAdOx-1 and BNT162b2 vaccine boosting groups increased to 41.7% and 54.5%, respectively. However, after 12 and 24 weeks of boosting with any vaccines, NAb levels against the Omicron variant dramatically waned. Twenty-four weeks after boosting, only 2% had high levels of NAbs against the Omicron variant. Compared to other variants, the Omicron variant was less responsive to boosting vaccines. The waning rate of NAb levels for the Omicron variant was much faster than that observed in the Alpha, Beta and Delta variants. To combat the Omicron variant, the fourth booster dose is, therefore, recommended for elderly individuals.
