SARS-CoV-2 Specific Humoral Immune Responses after BNT162b2 Vaccination in Hospital Healthcare Workers

Abstract

Background: COVID-19 pandemic has led to a loss of human life in millions and devastating socio-economic consequences worldwide. So far, vaccination is the most effective long-term strategy to control and prevent severe COVID-19 disease. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the humoral immune responses raised against the BNT162b2 vaccine in hospital healthcare workers. Methods: Total number of 173 healthcare workers enrolled in the study. Their blood samples were collected in three different time intervals after the second SARS-CoV-2 vaccination and evaluated by the ELISA method to detect anti-spike protein IgM and IgG antibodies. The baseline characteristics of all participants were collected using questionnaires and were evaluated for finding any significant data. Results: Our results demonstrated that the levels of antibodies were higher in the young group (21–30 years old) and also among male participants. Moreover, the highest levels of antibodies were detected from the group that received the third shot vaccination. Conclusions: Our results indicate that age, gender and third-dose vaccination can affect the levels of humoral immune responses against the BNT162b2 vaccine in healthcare workers.

Keywords

• SARS-CoV-2
• COVID-19
• spike protein
• mRNA vaccine
• BNT162b2
• antibody titer