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. 2022 Oct;34(10):2577-2584.
doi: 10.1007/s40520-022-02239-0. Epub 2022 Sep 21.

Humoral immunity induced by mRNA COVID-19 vaccines in Nursing Home Residents previously infected with SARS-CoV-2

Giorgio Fedele #  1 , Annapina Palmieri #  2 , Cecilia Damiano  2 , Anna Di Lonardo  2 , Pasqualina Leone  3 , Ilaria Schiavoni  3 , Caterina Trevisan  4 , Angela Marie Abbatecola  5 , Carmine Cafariello  6 , Alba Malara  7 , Pasquale Minchella  8 , Giuseppina Panduri  8 , Raffaele Antonelli Incalzi  9 , Anna Teresa Palamara  3 , Paola Stefanelli #  3 , Graziano Onder #  2 ; GeroCovid Vax Study Group
Affiliations

Humoral immunity induced by mRNA COVID-19 vaccines in Nursing Home Residents previously infected with SARS-CoV-2

Giorgio Fedele et al. Aging Clin Exp Res. 2022 Oct.

Abstract

Background: Nursing home (NH) residents suffered the greatest impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Limited data are available on vaccine-induced immunity and on the protection ensured by a prior infection in this population.

Aims: The present study aims to monitor antibody levels and their persistence over a 6-month period in NH residents according to the history of prior SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Methods: We measured anti-trimeric Spike IgG antibody levels in a sample of 395 residents from 25 NHs in 6 Italian Regions at study enrolment (prior to the first dose of vaccine, T0) and then after 2 (T1) and 6 months (T2) following the first vaccine dose. All participants received mRNA vaccines (BNT162b2 or mRNA-1273). Analyses were performed using log-transformed values of antibody concentrations and geometric means (GM) were calculated.

Results: Superior humoral immunity was induced in NH residents with previous SARS-CoV-2 infection. (T0: GM 186.6 vs. 6.1 BAU/ml, p < 0.001; T1: GM 5264.1 vs. 944.4 BAU/ml, p < 0.001; T2: GM 1473.6 vs. 128.7 BAU/ml, p < 0.001). Residents with prior SARS-CoV-2 infection receiving two vaccine doses presented significantly higher antibody concentration at T1 and T2. A longer interval between previous infection and vaccination was associated with a better antibody response over time.

Discussion: In a frail sample of NH residents, prior SARS-CoV-2 infection was associated with a higher humoral response to vaccination. Number of vaccine doses and the interval between infection and vaccination are relevant parameters in determining humoral immunity.

Conclusions: These findings provide important information to plan future immunization policies and disease prevention strategies in a highly vulnerable population.

Keywords: COVID-19 vaccines; Frailty; Nursing homes; SARS-CoV-2.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no potential conflict of interest.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
SARS-CoV-2 trimeric S IgG antibody concentration (log-transformed values) before vaccination (T0), 2 months (T1) and 6 months (T2) after first dose of vaccine according to prior SARS-CoV-2 infection. Data are presented for the whole sample (upper panel, n = 395), for BNT162b2 (n = 344, lower left panel), and mRNA-1273 vaccines (n = 51 lower right panel)
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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