Vaccines (Sep 2022)

Assessment of Predictors for SARS-CoV-2 Antibodies Decline Rate in Health Care Workers after BNT162b2 Vaccination—Results from a Serological Survey

  • Nadav Zacks,
  • Amir Bar-Shai,
  • Hezi Levi,
  • Anna Breslavsky,
  • Shlomo Maayan,
  • Tsyba Evgenia,
  • Shlomo Feitelovich,
  • Ori Wand,
  • Moshe Schaffer,
  • Yaniv Sherer,
  • Gili Givaty,
  • Anat Tzurel Ferber,
  • Tal Michael,
  • Natalya Bilenko

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines10091443
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 10, no. 9
p. 1443

Abstract

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Background: SARS-CoV-2 is a novel human pathogen causing Coronavirus Disease 2019 that has caused widespread global mortality and morbidity. Since health workers in Israel were among the first to be vaccinated, we had a unique opportunity to investigate the post-vaccination level of IgG anti-S levels antibodies (Abs) and their dynamics by demographic and professional factors. Methods: Prospective Serological Survey during December 2020–August 2021 at Barzilai Medical Center among 458 health care workers (HCW) followed for 6 months after the second BNT162b2 vaccine dose. Results: Antibody levels before the second dose, and 30, 90 and 180 days after were 57.1 ± 29.2, 223 ± 70.2, 172.8 ± 73.3 and 166.4 ± 100.7 AU/mL, respectively. From GEE analysis, females had higher Abs levels (β = 26.37 AU/mL, p = 0.002). Age was negatively associated with Abs, with a 1.17 AU/mL decrease for each additional year (p p = 0.009) compared to working with no such contact. The average decline rate overall for the study period was 3.0 ± 2.9 AU/mL per week without differences by demographic parameters and was faster during the first 3 months after vaccination than in the subsequent 3 months. Conclusions: All demographic groups experienced a decline in Abs over time, faster during the first 3 months. Findings of overall Abs lower in males, workers with direct contact with patients, and older workers, should be considered for policy-making about choosing priority populations for additional vaccine doses in hospital settings.

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