COVID-19 vaccination; antibody dynamics; booster; nursing home residents; Immunology; Pharmacology; Drug Discovery; Infectious Diseases; Pharmacology (medical)
Abstract :
[en] [en] BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: This study mapped antibody dynamics across three COVID-19 vaccination rounds (primary course, first, and second booster with BNT162b2) in Belgian nursing home residents (NHRs).
METHODS: Within a national SARS-CoV-2 serosurveillance study (February 2021-September 2022) across Belgian nursing homes, dried blood spots were collected, on which anti-spike SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies were quantified by ELISA in international units/mL (IU/mL). Sociodemographic data were collected at the study start and infection history and vaccination data at each sampling round.
RESULTS: Infection-naïve NHRs had low antibody levels after primary course vaccination (geometric mean concentration (GMC) 292 IU/mL, 95% confidence interval (95% CI): 197-432), but increased tenfold after first booster (GMC 2168 IU/mL, 95% CI: 1554-3027). While antibodies among NHRs significantly declined within six months after primary vaccination (p < 0.0001), they remained stable for nine months post-booster (p > 0.05). Among primary vaccine non-responders, 92% (95% CI: 82-97%) developed antibodies after the first booster (GMC 594 IU/mL, 95% CI: 416-849), though tenfold lower than initial responders (GMC 4642 IU/mL, 95% CI: 3577-6022).
CONCLUSIONS: These findings demonstrate that NHRs require tailored vaccination, prioritizing repeated immunization to improve serological outcomes in poor responders such as infection-naive NHRs. Regular immune monitoring could aid in implementing evidence-based vaccine strategies, ensuring optimal protection for vulnerable populations against SARS-CoV-2 and other infectious threats.
Disciplines :
Immunology & infectious disease
Author, co-author :
Meyers, Eline ; Department of Diagnostic Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
De Rop, Liselore ; LUHTAR-Leuven Unit for HTA Research, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
Gioveni, Claudia; Department of Diagnostic Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
Engels, Fien; Department of Diagnostic Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
Coen, Anja; Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
De Burghgraeve, Tine ; LUHTAR-Leuven Unit for HTA Research, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
Van Ngoc, Pauline ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département des sciences cliniques > Médecine générale
De Clercq, Nele; Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
Buret, Laetitia ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département des sciences cliniques > Médecine générale
Coenen, Samuel ; Department of Family Medicine & Population Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium
Padalko, Elizaveta ; Laboratory of Medical Microbiology, Ghent University Hospital, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
Duysburgh, Els ; Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Sciensano, 1000 Brussels, Belgium
Scholtes, Béatrice ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département des sciences cliniques > Médecine générale
Verbakel, Jan Y ; LUHTAR-Leuven Unit for HTA Research, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
Heytens, Stefan ; Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
Cools, Piet ; Department of Diagnostic Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
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