SARS-CoV-2 antibodies started to decline just four months after COVID-19 infection in a paediatric population

Aim: We evaluated the prevalence of paediatric severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infections using antibody testing and characterised antibody titres by time from exposure.

Methods: This was a single-centre, prospective, cross-sectional cohort study. Patients under 18 years old were eligible to participate if they attended the paediatric emergency department at the tertiary Shaare Zedek Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel, from 18 October 2020 to 12 January 2021 and required blood tests or intravenous access. SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity and antibody levels were tested by a dual-assay model.

Results: The study comprised 1138 patients (56% male) with a mean age of 4.4 years (interquartile range 1.3-11.3). Anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies were found in 10% of the patients. Seropositivity increased with age and 41% of seropositive patients had no known exposure. Children under 6 years of age had higher initial antibody levels than older children, followed by a steeper decline. The seropositivity rate did not vary during the study, despite schools re-opening. The findings suggest that children's immunity may start falling 4 months after the initial infection.

Conclusion: Immunity started falling after just 4 months, and re-opening schools did not affect infection rates. These findings could aid decisions about vaccinating paediatric populations and school closures.