Six-Month Follow-Up of Immune Responses after a Rapid Mass Vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 with BNT162b2 in the District of Schwaz/Austria

Viruses. 2022 Jul 27;14(8):1642. doi: 10.3390/v14081642.

Abstract

In response to a large outbreak of the SARS-CoV-2 Beta (B.1.351) variant in the district Schwaz, Austria, a rapid mass vaccination campaign with BNT162b2 was carried out in spring 2021, immunizing more than 70% of the adult population within one week. Subsequent analysis revealed that the mass vaccination was associated with a significant reduction in new SARS-CoV-2 infections compared to control districts. Here, we aimed to evaluate both SARS-CoV-2-specific T- and B-cell responses at 35 ± 8 and 215 ± 7 days after the second dose in 600 study subjects who participated at both time points. Overall, a robust antibody and T-cell response was measured at day 35, which waned over time. Nevertheless, all persons preserved seropositivity and T cell response could still be detected in about half of the participants at day 215. Further, antibody response correlated negatively with age; however, in persons who experienced SARS-CoV-2 infection prior to study enrolment, the serum levels of both S- and N-specific antibodies surprisingly increased with age. In contrast, there was no correlation of T cell response with age. We could not detect any sex-related difference in the immune responses. SARS-CoV-2 infections prior to study enrolment or incident infections before day 215 resulted in higher antibody levels and T cell responses at day 215 compared to study participants with no history of infection. Collectively, our data support that vaccination with BNT162b2 against COVID-19 provides a durable immune response and emphasize the usefulness of vaccination even after a natural infection.

Keywords: COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; T cell response; antibody response; vaccination.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Antibodies, Viral
  • Antibody Formation
  • Austria
  • BNT162 Vaccine
  • COVID-19* / prevention & control
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Mass Vaccination
  • SARS-CoV-2*
  • Vaccination

Substances

  • Antibodies, Viral
  • BNT162 Vaccine

Supplementary concepts

  • SARS-CoV-2 variants

Grants and funding

This research received no external funding.