The BNT162b2 vaccine induces humoral and cellular immune memory to SARS-CoV-2 Wuhan strain and the Omicron variant in children 5 to 11 years of age

SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccines prevent severe COVID-19 by generating immune memory, comprising specific antibodies and memory B and T cells. Although children are at low risk of severe COVID-19, the spreading of highly transmissible variants has led to increasing in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations als...

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Published in:Frontiers in immunology 2022-12, Vol.13, p.1094727-1094727
Main Authors: Cinicola, Bianca Laura, Piano Mortari, E, Zicari, Anna Maria, Agrati, Chiara, Bordoni, Veronica, Albano, Christian, Fedele, Giorgio, Schiavoni, Ilaria, Leone, Pasqualina, Fiore, Stefano, Capponi, Martina, Conti, Maria Giulia, Petrarca, Laura, Stefanelli, Paola, Spalice, Alberto, Midulla, Fabio, Palamara, Anna Teresa, Quinti, Isabella, Locatelli, Franco, Carsetti, Rita
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Antibodies
BNT162 Vaccine
Child
Child, Preschool
children
COVID-19 - prevention & control
Humans
immune memory
Immunologic Memory
Immunology
memory B cells
mRNA Vaccines
Omicron
SARS-CoV-2
vaccine
Vaccines
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Summary:SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccines prevent severe COVID-19 by generating immune memory, comprising specific antibodies and memory B and T cells. Although children are at low risk of severe COVID-19, the spreading of highly transmissible variants has led to increasing in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations also in the youngest, but vaccine coverage remains low. Immunogenicity to mRNA vaccines has not been extensively studied in children 5 to 11 years old. In particular, cellular immunity to the wild-type strain (Wuhan) and the cross-reactive response to the Omicron variant of concern has not been investigated. We assessed the humoral and cellular immune response to the SARS-CoV-2 BNT162b2 vaccine in 27 healthy children. We demonstrated that vaccination induced a potent humoral and cellular immune response in all vaccinees. By using spike-specific memory B cells as a measurable imprint of a previous infection, we found that 50% of the children had signs of a past, undiagnosed infection before vaccination. Children with pre-existent immune memory generated significantly increased levels of specific antibodies, and memory T and B cells, directed against not only the wild type virus but also the omicron variant.
ISSN:1664-3224
1664-3224
DOI:10.3389/fimmu.2022.1094727