Search This Blog

Thursday, April 1, 2021

BNT162b2 Vax in People Over 80 Induces Strong Immune Response, Cross Neutralizes P.1 Brazil Variant

 

Helen Marie Parry

University of Birmingham - Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy

Gokhan Tut

University of Birmingham

Sian Faustini

University of Birmingham - Clinical Immunology Service

Christine Stephens

University of Birmingham - Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy

Philip Saunders

Quinton and Harborne PCN

Christopher Bentley

University of Birmingham - Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy

Katherine Hilyard

Deparment of Buisness Energy and Industrial Strategy - Vaccine Taskforce

Kevin Brown

Public Health England

Gayatri Amirthalingam

Public Health England - Immunisation and Countermeasures Division

Sue Charlton

Public Health England - National Infection Service

Stephanie Leung

Government of the United Kingdom - National Infection Service

Emily Chiplin

Government of the United Kingdom - National Infection Service

Naomi S. Coombes

Government of the United Kingdom - National Infection Service

Kevin R. Bewley

Government of the United Kingdom - National Infection Service

Elizabeth J. Penn

Government of the United Kingdom - National Infection Service

Cathy Rowe

Public Health England

Ashley Otter

Public Health England

Rosie Watts

Government of the United Kingdom - National Infection Service

Silvia D’Arcangelo

Government of the United Kingdom - National Infection Service

Bassam Hallis

Public Health England - National Infection Service

Andrew Makin

Oxford Immunotec LTD

Alex G. Richter

University of Birmingham - Clinical Immunology Service

Jianmin Zuo

University of Birmingham - Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy

Paul Moss

University of Birmingham - Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy

More...



Background: Age is the major risk factor for mortality after SARS-CoV-2 infection and older people have received priority consideration for COVID-19 vaccination. However vaccine responses are often suboptimal in this age group and few people over the age of 80 years were included in vaccine registration trials.

Methods: We determined the serological and cellular response to spike protein in 100 people aged 80-96 years at 2 weeks after second vaccination with the Pfizer BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine.

Findings: Antibody responses were seen in every donor with high titres in 98%. Spike-specific cellular immune responses were detectable in only 63% and correlated with humoral response. Previous SARS-CoV-2 infection substantially increased antibody responses after one vaccine and antibody and cellular responses remained 28-fold and 3-fold higher respectively after dual vaccination. Post-vaccine sera mediated strong neutralisation of live Victoria (Wuhan-like prototype) infection and although neutralisation titres were reduced 14-fold against the P.1 variant first discovered in Brazil they remained largely effective.

Interpretation: These data demonstrate that the mRNA vaccine platform delivers strong humoral immunity in people up to 96 years of age and retains broad efficacy against the P.1 Variant of Concern.

Funding: This work was supported by the UK Coronavirus Immunology Consortium (UK-CIC) funded by DHSC/UKRI and the National Core Studies Immunity programme.

Declaration of Interest: None to declare


Posted by at

No comments:

Post a Comment

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)