Open AccessRETRACTED: Heterogeneous Longitudinal Antibody Responses to Covid-19 mRNA Vaccination
Author(s) -
Suzanne M. de la Monte,
Christine Long,
Nicole Szczepanski,
Christopher L. Griffin,
A. L. Fitzgerald,
Kimberle Chapin
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
clinical pathology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.242
H-Index - 10
ISSN - 2632-010X
DOI - 10.1177/2632010x211049255
Subject(s) - vaccination , antibody , immunology , medicine , covid-19 , virology , pandemic , conceptualization , disease , biology , infectious disease (medical specialty) , artificial intelligence , computer science
Background: Public health measures to stem the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic are challenged by social, economic, health status, and cultural disparities that facilitate disease transmission and amplify its severity. Prior pre-clinical biomedical technologic advances in nucleic acid-based vaccination enabled unprecedented speed of conceptualization, development, production, and widespread distribution of mRNA vaccines that target SARS-CoV-2’s Spike (S) protein.Design: Twenty-five female and male volunteer fulltime employees at the Providence VA Medical Center participated in this study to examine longitudinal antibody responses to the Moderna mRNA-1273 vaccine. IgM-S and IgG-S were measured in serum using the Abbott IgM-S-Qualitative and IgG2-S-Quantitative chemiluminescent assays.Results: Peak IgM responses after Vaccine Dose #1 were delayed in 6 (24%) and absent in 7 (28%) participants. IgG2-S peak responses primarily occurred 40 to 44 days after Vaccine Dose #1, which was also 11 to 14 days after Vaccine Dose #2. However, subgroups exhibited Strong (n = 6; 24%), Normal (n = 13; 52%), or Weak (n = 6; 24%) peak level responses that differed significantly from each other ( P < .005 or better). The post-peak IgG2-S levels declined progressively, and within 6 months reached the mean level measured 1 month after Vaccine Dose #1. Weak responders exhibited persistently low levels of IgG2-S. Variability in vaccine responsiveness was unrelated to age or gender.Conclusion: Host responses to SARS-CoV-2-Spike mRNA vaccines vary in magnitude, duration and occurrence. This study raises concern about the lack of vaccine protection in as many as 8% of otherwise normal people, and the need for open dialog about future re-boosting requirements to ensure long-lasting immunity via mRNA vaccination versus natural infection.