Correlates of neutralizing/SARS-CoV-2-S1-binding antibody response with adverse effects and immune kinetics in BNT162b2-vaccinated individuals

While mRNA vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 are exceedingly effective in preventing symptomatic infection, their immune response features remain to be clarified. In the present prospective study, 225 healthy individuals in Japan, who received two BNT162b2 doses, were enrolled. Correlates of BNT162b2-elicited SARS-CoV-2-neutralizing activity (50% neutralization titer: NT50; assessed using infectious virions) with various determinants were examined and the potency of sera against variants of concerns was determined. Significant rise in NT(50)s was seen in sera on day 28 post-1st dose. A moderate inverse correlation was seen between NT(50)s and ages, but no correlation seen between NT(50)s and adverse effects. NT(50)s and SARS-CoV-2-S1-binding-IgG levels on day 28 post-1st dose and pain scores following the 2nd dose were greater in women than in men. The average half-life of NT(50)s was similar to 68 days, and 23.6% (49 out of 208 individuals) failed to show detectable neutralizing activity on day 150. While sera from elite-responders (NT(50)s > 1,500: the top 4% among the participants) potently to moderately blocked all variants of concerns examined, some sera with low NT(50)s failed to block the B.1.351-beta strain. Since BNT162b2-elicited immunity against SARS-CoV-2 is short, an additional vaccine or other protective measures are needed.

Automated summary

The study found that the BNT162b2 vaccine can significantly increase neutralizing activity against SARS-CoV-2, but there are differences in different age groups and genders, as well as concerns about the duration of neutralizing capability and effectiveness against variant strains.