IgG antibody production and persistence to 6 months following SARS-CoV-2 vaccination: A Northern Ireland observational study

• Published in: Vaccine Vol. 40; no. 18; pp. 2535 - 2539
• Main Authors: Robertson, Louise J., Price, Ruth, Moore, Julie S., Curry, Grace, Farnan, John, Black, Amy, Blighe, Kevin, Nesbit, M. Andrew, McLaughlin, James A.D., Moore, Tara
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier Ltd 20.04.2022; Elsevier Limited; The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd
• Subjects: Adenovirus vector-based vaccine; Adenoviruses; Antibodies; Antibodies, Viral; Antibody Formation; Antibody response; Consortia; Coronaviruses; COVID-19; COVID-19 - prevention & control; COVID-19 vaccination; COVID-19 Vaccines; Humans; IgG antibody; Immunoglobulin G; Infections; Laboratories; Middle Aged; Northern Ireland; Observational studies; Oxford-AstraZeneca ChAdOx1; Pandemics; Proteins; SARS-CoV-2; Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; Short Communication; Spike protein; Vaccination; Vaccines; Northern Ireland; United Kingdom > UK; COVID-19; Oxford-AstraZeneca ChAdOx1; SARS-CoV-2; COVID-19 vaccination; Adenovirus vector-based vaccine; Antibody response
• ISSN: 0264-410X; 1873-2518
• DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2022.02.087

This study evaluates spike protein IgG antibody response following Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccination using the AbC-19™ lateral flow device. Plasma samples were collected from n = 111 individuals from Northern Ireland. The majority were >50 years old and/or clinically vulnerable. Samples were taken at five timepoints from pre-vaccination until 6-months post-first dose. 20.3% of participants had detectable IgG responses pre-vaccination, indicating prior COVID-19. Antibodies were detected in 86.9% of participants three weeks after the first vaccine dose, falling to 74.7% immediately prior to the second dose, and rising to 99% three weeks post-second vaccine. At 6-months post-first dose, this decreased to 90.5%. At all timepoints, previously infected participants had significantly higher antibody levels than those not previously infected. This study demonstrates that strong anti-spike protein antibody responses are evoked in almost all individuals that receive two doses of Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, and which largely persist beyond six months after first vaccination.