Comparison of the rapidity of SARS-CoV-2 immune responses between primary and booster vaccination for COVID-19

Abstract

Background/Aims The rapidity of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)-specific memory B or T cell response in vaccinated individuals is important for our understanding of immunopathogenesis of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). We therefore compared the timing of adequate immune responses between the first and booster doses of COVID-19 vaccines in infection-naïve healthcare workers. Methods We enrolled healthcare workers who received two doses of either the BNT162b2 vaccine or the ChAdOx1 vaccine, all of whom received the BNT162b2 vaccine as the booster (the third) dose. Spike 1 (S1)-immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies and interferon gamma producing T cell responses were measured at 0, 7, 14, and 21 days after the first dose, and at 0 and between 2 to 7 days after the booster dose. Results After the first-dose vaccination, the S1-IgG antibody responses were elicited within 14 days in the BNT162b2 group and within 21 days in the ChAdOx1 group. After the booster dose, the S1-IgG antibody responses were elicited within 5 days in both groups. The SARS-CoV-2-specific T cell responses appeared at 7 days after the first dose and at 4 days after the booster dose. Conclusions SARS-CoV-2-specific immune responses by memory B cells and T cells may be expected to appear around 4 to 5 days after the booster dose.

Keywords

• antibody formation
• primary
• secondary
• covid-19 vaccines