1. Age-dependent Immune Response to the Biontech/Pfizer BNT162b2 Coronavirus Disease 2019 Vaccination
- Author
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Johannes Ptok, Rebekka Robitzsch, Christopher Menne, Sandra Hauka, Ingo Drexler, Jonas Hillebrandt, Jörg Timm, Anastasia Ritchie, Denise Rabl, Lara Walotka, Lisa Müller, Ortwin Adams, Ralf Grutza, Andreas Walker, Wiebke Moskorz, Ramona Grothmann, Heiner Schaal, Philipp Niklas Ostermann, and Marcel Andree
- Subjects
Male ,0301 basic medicine ,Microbiology (medical) ,Population ,Antibodies, Viral ,Cohort Studies ,03 medical and health sciences ,0302 clinical medicine ,Immune system ,Immunity ,Major Article ,Humans ,Medicine ,030212 general & internal medicine ,education ,BNT162 Vaccine ,Aged ,Aged, 80 and over ,education.field_of_study ,biology ,business.industry ,Vaccination ,Age Factors ,Antibody titer ,COVID-19 ,Middle Aged ,Antibodies, Neutralizing ,Titer ,AcademicSubjects/MED00290 ,030104 developmental biology ,Infectious Diseases ,Immunization ,Immunoglobulin G ,Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus ,Immunology ,biology.protein ,Female ,Antibody ,business - Abstract
Background The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic has led to the development of various vaccines. Real-life data on immune responses elicited in the most vulnerable group of vaccinees older than age 80 years old are still underrepresented despite the prioritization of the elderly in vaccination campaigns. Methods We conducted a cohort study with 2 age groups, young vaccinees below the age of 60 years and elderly vaccinees over the age of 80 years, to compare their antibody responses to the first and second dose of the BNT162b2 coronavirus disease 2019 vaccination. Results Although the majority of participants in both groups produced specific immunoglobulin G antibody titers against SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, titers were significantly lower in elderly participants. Although the increment of antibody levels after the second immunization was higher in elderly participants, the absolute mean titer of this group remained lower than the Conclusions Our data showed differences between the antibody responses raised after the first and second BNT162b2 vaccination, in particular lower frequencies of neutralizing antibodies in the elderly group. This suggests that this population needs to be closely monitored and may require earlier revaccination and/or an increased vaccine dose to ensure stronger long-lasting immunity and protection against infection.
- Published
- 2021