Humoral immunity after second dose of BNT162b2 vaccine in Japanese communities: an observational cross-sectional study, Fukushima Vaccination Community Survey

Abstract

To reveal waning humoral immunity after second dose BNT162b2 vaccinations in a rural Japanese community and determine factors affecting antibody titers. We aimed to report Immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibody against the SARS-CoV-2 spike (S1) protein levels and neutralizing activity in a large scale community based cohort.

Methods: Participants in the observational cross-sectional study received a second dose of vaccination with BNT162b2 (Pfizer/BioNTech) and were not previously infected with COVID-19. Questionnaire-collected data on sex, age, adverse vaccine reactions, and medical history was obtained.

Results: Data from 2496 participants revealed that older age groups reached a low antibody titer 90-120 days after the second vaccination. Neutralizing activity decreased with age; 35 (13.3%) of those aged ≥ 80 years had neutralizing activity under the cut-off value. Neutralizing activity > 179 days from the second vaccination was 11.6% compared to that at < 60 days from the second vaccination. Significantly lower IgG antibody titers and neutralizing activity were associated with age, male sex, increased time from second vaccination, smoking, steroids, immunosuppression, and comorbidities.

Conclusions: Antibody titer decreased substantially over time. Susceptible populations, older people, men, smokers, steroid users, immunosuppression users, and people with three or more comorbidities may require a special protection strategy.

Figure 1

Requirement of participants. The participants were mainly recruited from rural Fukushima prefecture, including health care workers, frontline workers, administrative officers, general residents, and residents of long-term care facilities.

Figure 2

Distribution of (a) IgG antibody titer against S1 protein and (b) neutralizing activity by age groups. Anti-S1 IgG antibody and neutralizing activity were log-transformed. The cut-off values of each antibody were 10 arbitrary units per milliliter (AU/mL).

Figure 3

Distribution of (a) IgG antibody titer against S1 protein and (b) neutralizing activity by groups based on duration from second vaccination. Anti-S1 IgG antibody and neutralizing activity were log-transformed. The cut-off values of each antibody were 10 arbitrary units per milliliter (AU/mL). The adjusted mean titer was calculated using the age distribution of the whole country’s population based on the Japanese model population in 1985 (we do not have the new version of the model population).