Frontiers in Immunology (Nov 2022)

Waning of specific antibodies against Delta and Omicron variants five months after a third dose of BNT162b2 SARS-CoV-2 vaccine in elderly individuals

  • Yun Shan Goh,
  • Angeline Rouers,
  • Siew-Wai Fong,
  • Nicole Ziyi Zhuo,
  • Pei Xiang Hor,
  • Chiew Yee Loh,
  • Yuling Huang,
  • Vanessa Kexin Neo,
  • Isaac Kai Jie Kam,
  • Bei Wang,
  • Eve Zi Xian Ngoh,
  • Siti Nazihah Mohd Salleh,
  • Raphael Tze Chuen Lee,
  • Raphael Tze Chuen Lee,
  • Surinder Pada,
  • Louisa Jin Sun,
  • Desmond Luan Seng Ong,
  • Jyoti Somani,
  • Eng Sing Lee,
  • Eng Sing Lee,
  • NCID Study Group,
  • COVID-19 Study Group,
  • Sebastian Maurer-Stroh,
  • Sebastian Maurer-Stroh,
  • Sebastian Maurer-Stroh,
  • Sebastian Maurer-Stroh,
  • Sebastian Maurer-Stroh,
  • Cheng-I Wang,
  • Yee‐Sin Leo,
  • Yee‐Sin Leo,
  • Yee‐Sin Leo,
  • Yee‐Sin Leo,
  • Yee‐Sin Leo,
  • Ee Chee Ren,
  • Ee Chee Ren,
  • David C. Lye,
  • David C. Lye,
  • David C. Lye,
  • David C. Lye,
  • Barnaby Edward Young,
  • Barnaby Edward Young,
  • Barnaby Edward Young,
  • Lisa F. P. Ng,
  • Lisa F. P. Ng,
  • Lisa F. P. Ng,
  • Laurent Renia,
  • Laurent Renia,
  • Laurent Renia,
  • Jocelyn Jin Yu,
  • Zheng Kuang Soh,
  • Yi Qing Chin,
  • Jonathan Jordon Lim,
  • Juwinda Ongko,
  • Eshele Anak Libau,
  • Mohammed Ridzwan Bin Abdullah,
  • Shiau Hui Diong,
  • Jefanie Teo,
  • He Ping Yeo

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2022.1031852
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 13

Abstract

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The emergence of new SARS-CoV-2 variants, such as the more transmissible Delta and Omicron variants, has raised concerns on efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccines. Here, we examined the waning of antibody responses against different variants following primary and booster vaccination. We found that antibody responses against variants were low following primary vaccination. The antibody response against Omicron was almost non-existent. Efficient boosting of antibody response against all variants, including Omicron, was observed following a third dose. The antibody response against the variants tested was significantly higher at one month following booster vaccination, compared with two months following primary vaccination, for all individuals, including the low antibody responders identified at two months following primary vaccination. The antibody response, for all variants tested, was significantly higher at four months post booster than at five months post primary vaccination, and the proportion of low responders remained low (6-11%). However, there was significant waning of antibody response in more than 95% of individuals at four months, compared to one month following booster. We also observed a robust memory B cell response following booster, which remained higher at four months post booster than prior to booster. However, the memory B cell responses were on the decline for 50% of individuals at four months following booster. Similarly, while the T cell response is sustained, at cohort level, at four months post booster, a substantial proportion of individuals (18.8 – 53.8%) exhibited T cell response at four months post booster that has waned to levels below their corresponding levels before booster. The findings show an efficient induction of immune response against SARS-CoV-2 variants following booster vaccination. However, the induced immunity by the third BNT162b2 vaccine dose was transient. The findings suggest that elderly individuals may require a fourth dose to provide protection against SARS-CoV-2.

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