Comparison of immune response to SARS-COV-2 vaccine in COVID-recovered versus non-infected Individuals

Abstract

To determine the antibody levels at 6 months in SARS-CoV-2 vaccinated individuals in COVID-recovered versus non-infected groups to determine the need to administer booster COVID vaccine in each group. Prospective longitudinal study. Pathology Department, Combined Military Hospital, Lahore for a period of eight months from July 2021 to February 2022. Two hundred and thirty three study participants in both COVID recovered and non-infected groups (105 participants in infected group, 128 participants in non-infected group) were subjected to blood sampling at 6 months post-vaccination. Anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibody test was done using Chemiluminescence method. Comparison of antibody levels between COVID-recovered and non-infected groups was made. Results were compiled and statistically analyzed using SPSS version 21. Out of 233 study participants, males were 183 (78%) while females were 50 (22%), mean age being 35.93 years ± 8.298. Mean Anti-SARS-CoV-2 S IgG levels among COVID-recovered group was 1342 U/ml and among non-infected group was 828 U/ml at 6 months post-vaccination. Mean antibody titers in COVID-19 recovered group are higher than in non-infected group at 6 months post-vaccination in both groups.

Keywords: Booster vaccine; COVID antibody; COVID vaccine; Immune response; SARS-COV-2.