Humoral immunity induced by mRNA COVID-19 vaccines in Nursing Home Residents previously infected with SARS-CoV-2

• Published in: Aging clinical and experimental research 2022-10, Vol.34 (10), p.2577-2584
• Main Authors: Fedele, Giorgio, Palmieri, Annapina, Damiano, Cecilia, Di Lonardo, Anna, Leone, Pasqualina, Schiavoni, Ilaria, Trevisan, Caterina, Abbatecola, Angela Marie, Cafariello, Carmine, Malara, Alba, Minchella, Pasquale, Panduri, Giuseppina, Antonelli Incalzi, Raffaele, Palamara, Anna Teresa, Stefanelli, Paola, Onder, Graziano
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Antibodies; Coronaviruses; COVID-19 vaccines; Disease prevention; Geriatrics/Gerontology; Infections; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Nursing homes; Original; Original Article; Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2
• ISSN: 1720-8319; 1594-0667; 1720-8319
• DOI: 10.1007/s40520-022-02239-0

Background Nursing home (NH) residents suffered the greatest impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Limited data are available on vaccine-induced immunity and on the protection ensured by a prior infection in this population. Aims The present study aims to monitor antibody levels and their persistence over a 6-month period in NH residents according to the history of prior SARS-CoV-2 infection. Methods We measured anti-trimeric Spike IgG antibody levels in a sample of 395 residents from 25 NHs in 6 Italian Regions at study enrolment (prior to the first dose of vaccine, T0) and then after 2 (T1) and 6 months (T2) following the first vaccine dose. All participants received mRNA vaccines (BNT162b2 or mRNA-1273). Analyses were performed using log-transformed values of antibody concentrations and geometric means (GM) were calculated. Results Superior humoral immunity was induced in NH residents with previous SARS-CoV-2 infection. (T0: GM 186.6 vs. 6.1 BAU/ml, p