Comparative Immunogenicity of BNT162b2 mRNA Vaccine with Natural SARS-CoV-2 Infection
Mina Psichogiou,
Andreas Karabinis,
Garyphallia Poulakou,
Anastasia Antoniadou,
Anastasia Kotanidou,
Dimitrios Degiannis,
Ioanna D. Pavlopoulou,
Antigoni Chaidaroglou,
Sotirios Roussos,
Elpida Mastrogianni,
Irene Eliadi,
Dimitrios Basoulis,
Konstantinos Petsios,
Konstantinos Leontis,
Eleni Kakalou,
Konstantinos Protopapas,
Edison Jahaj,
Maria Pratikaki,
Konstantinos N. Syrigos,
Pagona Lagiou,
Helen Gogas,
Sotirios Tsiodras,
Gkikas Magiorkinis,
Dimitrios Paraskevis,
Vana Sypsa,
Angelos Hatzakis
Affiliations
Mina Psichogiou
First Department of Internal Medicine, Laiko General Hospital, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece
Andreas Karabinis
Onassis Cardiac Surgery Center, 17674 Athens, Greece
Garyphallia Poulakou
3rd Department of Internal Medicine, Sotiria General Hospital, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece
Anastasia Antoniadou
4th Department of Internal Medicine, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 12462 Athens, Greece
Anastasia Kotanidou
1st Department of Critical Care & Pulmonary Services, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Evangelismos Hospital, 10676 Athens, Greece
Dimitrios Degiannis
Onassis Cardiac Surgery Center, 17674 Athens, Greece
Ioanna D. Pavlopoulou
Pediatric Research Laboratory, Faculty of Nursing, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece
Antigoni Chaidaroglou
Onassis Cardiac Surgery Center, 17674 Athens, Greece
Sotirios Roussos
Department of Hygiene, Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece
Elpida Mastrogianni
First Department of Internal Medicine, Laiko General Hospital, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece
Irene Eliadi
First Department of Internal Medicine, Laiko General Hospital, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece
Dimitrios Basoulis
First Department of Internal Medicine, Laiko General Hospital, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece
Konstantinos Petsios
Clinical Research Office, Onassis Cardiac Surgery Center, 17674 Athens, Greece
Konstantinos Leontis
3rd Department of Internal Medicine, Sotiria General Hospital, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece
Eleni Kakalou
3rd Department of Internal Medicine, Sotiria General Hospital, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece
Konstantinos Protopapas
4th Department of Internal Medicine, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 12462 Athens, Greece
Edison Jahaj
1st Department of Critical Care & Pulmonary Services, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Evangelismos Hospital, 10676 Athens, Greece
Maria Pratikaki
1st Department of Critical Care & Pulmonary Services, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Evangelismos Hospital, 10676 Athens, Greece
Konstantinos N. Syrigos
3rd Department of Internal Medicine, Sotiria General Hospital, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece
Pagona Lagiou
Department of Hygiene, Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece
Helen Gogas
First Department of Internal Medicine, Laiko General Hospital, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece
Sotirios Tsiodras
4th Department of Internal Medicine, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 12462 Athens, Greece
Gkikas Magiorkinis
Department of Hygiene, Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece
Dimitrios Paraskevis
Department of Hygiene, Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece
Vana Sypsa
Department of Hygiene, Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece
Angelos Hatzakis
Department of Hygiene, Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece
BNT162b2 has proven to be highly effective, but there is a paucity of data regarding immunogenicity factors and comparison between response to vaccination and natural infection. This study included 871 vaccinated healthcare workers (HCW) and 181 patients with natural infection. Immunogenicity was assessed by measuring anti-SARS-CoV-2 against the RBD domain of the spike protein (anti-RBD). Samples were collected 1–2 weeks after vaccination or 15–59 days post-onset of symptoms. Post-vaccine anti-RBD concentrations were associated with age, gender, vaccination side-effects (VSE) and prior infection (Pr-CoV). Anti-RBD median levels (95%CI) were lower by 2466 (651–5583), 6228 (3254–9203) and 7651 (4479–10,823) AU/mL in 35–44, 45–54, 55–70 yrs, respectively, compared with the 18–34 yrs group. In females, the median levels were higher by 2823 (859–4787), 5024 (3122–6926) in individuals with VSE, and 9971 (5158–14,783) AU/mL in HCWs with Pr-CoV. The ratio of anti-RBD in vaccinated individuals versus those with natural infection varied from 1.0 to 19.4. The high immunogenicity of BNT162b2 is verified, although its sustainability has yet to be elucidated. The use of comparative data from natural infection serological panels, expressing the clinical heterogeneity of natural infection, may facilitate early decisions for candidate vaccines to be evaluated in clinical trials.
