iScience (Sep 2023)

SARS-CoV-2 vaccine-induced antibodies protect against Omicron breakthrough infection

  • Eva A.M. Baerends,
  • Astrid K. Hvidt,
  • Joanne Reekie,
  • Ole S. Søgaard,
  • Nina B. Stærke,
  • Dorthe Raben,
  • Henrik Nielsen,
  • Kristine T. Petersen,
  • Maria R. Juhl,
  • Isik S. Johansen,
  • Susan O. Lindvig,
  • Lone W. Madsen,
  • Lothar Wiese,
  • Lene S. Knudsen,
  • Mette B. Iversen,
  • Thomas Benfield,
  • Kasper K. Iversen,
  • Sidsel D. Andersen,
  • Anna K. Juhl,
  • Lisa L. Dietz,
  • Signe R. Andreasen,
  • Thea K. Fischer,
  • Christian Erikstrup,
  • Palle Valentiner-Branth,
  • Jens Lundgren,
  • Lars Østergaard,
  • Martin Tolstrup,
  • J. Lundgren,
  • L. Østergaard,
  • T. Benfield,
  • L. Krohn-Dehli,
  • D.K. Petersen,
  • K. Fogh,
  • E. Højmark,
  • K.K. Iversen,
  • P. Bek,
  • V. Klastrup,
  • F. Larsen,
  • S.H. Rasmussen,
  • M.H. Schleimann,
  • S. Schieber,
  • N.B. Stærke,
  • A. Søndergaard,
  • B. Tarp,
  • M. Tousgaard,
  • Y. Yehdego,
  • J. Bodilsen,
  • H. Nielsen,
  • K.T. Petersen,
  • M. Ruwald,
  • R.K. Thisted,
  • S.F. Caspersen,
  • M. Iversen,
  • L.S. Knudsen,
  • J.L. Meyerhoff,
  • L.G. Sander,
  • L. Wiese,
  • C. Abildgaard,
  • I.K. Holden,
  • N.E. Johansen,
  • I.S. Johansen,
  • L. Larsen,
  • S.O. Lindvig,
  • L.W. Madsen,
  • A. Øvrehus,
  • N.A. Kruse,
  • H. Lomholdt,
  • T.G. Krause,
  • P. Valentiner-Branth,
  • B. Søborg,
  • T.K. Fischer,
  • C. Erikstrup,
  • S.R. Ostrowski,
  • M. Tolstrup,
  • O.S. Søgaard,
  • D. Raben,
  • E. Jylling,
  • D. Hougaard,
  • S.D. Andersen,
  • K. Lykkegaard,
  • S.R. Andreasen,
  • E. Baerends,
  • L.L. Dietz,
  • A.K. Hvidt,
  • A.K. Juhl,
  • R. Olesen,
  • K.K. Andersen,
  • W. Bannister,
  • C. Bjernved,
  • T.W. Elsing,
  • F.V. Esmann,
  • M.A. Ghafari,
  • E. Gravholdt,
  • S.F. Jakobsen,
  • M.L. Jakobsen,
  • C.M. Jensen,
  • T.Ø. Jensen,
  • D. Kristensen,
  • L.R. Kumar,
  • C. Matthews,
  • N. Normand,
  • C. Olsson,
  • J. Reekie,
  • A. Traytel,
  • T. Weide,
  • A.M. Hvas,
  • H. Støvring

Journal volume & issue
Vol. 26, no. 9
p. 107621

Abstract

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Summary: SARS-CoV-2 Omicron quickly spread globally, also in regions with high vaccination coverage, emphasizing the importance of exploring the immunological requirements for protection against Omicron breakthrough infection.The test-negative matched case-control study (N = 964) characterized Omicron breakthrough infections in triple-vaccinated individuals from the ENFORCE cohort. Within 60 days before a PCR test spike-specific IgG levels were significantly lower in cases compared to controls (GMR [95% CI] for BA.2: 0.83 [0.73–0.95], p = 0.006). Multivariable logistic regression showed significant associations between high antibody levels and lower odds of infection (aOR [95% CI] for BA.2 spike-specific IgG: 0.65 [0.48–0.88], p = 0.006 and BA.2 ACE2-blocking antibodies: 0.46 [0.30–0.69], p = 0.0002). A sex-stratified analysis showed more pronounced associations for females than males.High levels of vaccine-induced antibodies provide partial protection against Omicron breakthrough infections. This is important knowledge to further characterize a threshold for protection against new variants and to estimate the necessity and timing of booster vaccination.

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