AUTHOR=Delbrück Marla , Hoehl Sebastian , Toptan Tuna , Schenk Barbara , Grikscheit Katharina , Metzler Melinda , Herrmann Eva , Ciesek Sandra TITLE=Low But Recoverable Markers of Humoral Immune Response to BNT162b2 in Elderly LTCF Residents Five to Seven Months After Two-Dose Vaccination JOURNAL=Frontiers in Aging VOLUME=3 YEAR=2022 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/aging/articles/10.3389/fragi.2022.883724 DOI=10.3389/fragi.2022.883724 ISSN=2673-6217 ABSTRACT=

The immune response is known to wane after vaccination with BNT162b2, but the role of age, morbidity and body composition is not well understood. We conducted a cross-sectional study in long-term care facilities (LTCFs) for the elderly. All study participants had completed two-dose vaccination with BNT162b2 five to 7 months before sample collection. In 298 residents (median age 86 years, range 75–101), anti-SARS-CoV-2 rector binding IgG antibody (anti-RBD-IgG) concentrations were low and inversely correlated with age (mean 51.60 BAU/ml). We compared the results to Health Care Workers (HCW) aged 18–70 years (n = 114, median age: 53 years), who had a higher mean anti-RBD-IgG concentration of 156.99 BAU/ml. Neutralization against the Delta variant was low in both groups (9.5% in LTCF residents and 31.6% in HCWs). The Charlson Comorbidity Index was inversely correlated with anti-RBD-IgG, but not the body mass index (BMI). A control group of 14 LTCF residents with known breakthrough infection had significant higher antibody concentrations (mean 3,199.65 BAU/ml), and 85.7% had detectable neutralization against the Delta variant. Our results demonstrate low but recoverable markers of immunity in LTCF residents five to 7 months after vaccination.