Immunogenicity and durability against Omicron BA.1, BA.2 and BA.4/5 variants at 3-4 months after a heterologous COVID-19 booster vaccine in healthy adults with a two-doses CoronaVac vaccination

Suvichada Assawakosri; Sitthichai Kanokudom; Nungruthai Suntronwong; Jira Chansaenroj; Chompoonut Auphimai; Pornjarim Nilyanimit; Preeyaporn Vichaiwattana; Thanunrat Thongmee; Thaneeya Duangchinda; Warangkana Chantima; Pattarakul Pakchotanon; Donchida Srimuan; Thaksaporn Thatsanathorn; Sirapa Klinfueng; Natthinee Sudhinaraset; Nasamon Wanlapakorn; Juthathip Mongkolsapaya; Sittisak Honsawek; Yong Poovorawan

doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e23892

Immunogenicity and durability against Omicron BA.1, BA.2 and BA.4/5 variants at 3-4 months after a heterologous COVID-19 booster vaccine in healthy adults with a two-doses CoronaVac vaccination

Heliyon. 2023 Dec 20;10(1):e23892. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e23892. eCollection 2024 Jan 15.

Authors

Suvichada Assawakosri^{1

2}, Sitthichai Kanokudom^{1

2}, Nungruthai Suntronwong¹, Jira Chansaenroj¹, Chompoonut Auphimai¹, Pornjarim Nilyanimit¹, Preeyaporn Vichaiwattana¹, Thanunrat Thongmee¹, Thaneeya Duangchinda³, Warangkana Chantima^{4

5}, Pattarakul Pakchotanon³, Donchida Srimuan¹, Thaksaporn Thatsanathorn¹, Sirapa Klinfueng¹, Natthinee Sudhinaraset¹, Nasamon Wanlapakorn¹, Juthathip Mongkolsapaya^{6

7}, Sittisak Honsawek², Yong Poovorawan^{1

8}

Affiliations

¹ Center of Excellence in Clinical Virology, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand.
² Center of Excellence in Osteoarthritis and Musculoskeleton, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Thai Red Cross Society, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand.
³ Molecular Biology of Dengue and Flaviviruses Research Team, National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, National Science and Development Agency, NSTDA, Pathum Thani 12120, Thailand.
⁴ Division of Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever Research, Faculty of Medicine, Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10700, Thailand.
⁵ Siriraj Center of Research Excellence in Dengue and Emerging Pathogens, Faculty of Medicine, Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10700, Thailand.
⁶ Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX3 7BN, UK.
⁷ Chinese Academy of Medical Science (CAMS) Oxford Institute (COI), University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
⁸ FRS(T), the Royal Society of Thailand, Sanam Sueapa, Dusit, Bangkok 10330, Thailand.

Abstract

Background: Several countries have authorized a booster vaccine campaign to combat the spread of COVID-19. Data on persistence of booster vaccine-induced immunity against new Omicron subvariants are still limited. Therefore, our study aimed to determine the serological immune response of COVID-19 booster after CoronaVac-priming.

Methods: A total of 187 CoronaVac-primed participants were enrolled and received an inactivated (BBIBP), viral vector (AZD1222) or mRNA vaccine (full-/half-dose BNT162B2, full-/half-dose mRNA-1273) as a booster dose. The persistence of humoral immunity both binding and neutralizing antibodies against wild-type and Omicron was determined on day 90-120 after booster.

Results: A waning of total RBD immunoglobulin (Ig) levels, anti-RBD IgG, and neutralizing antibodies against Omicron BA.1, BA.2, and BA.4/5 variants was observed 90-120 days after booster vaccination. Participants who received mRNA-1273 had the highest persistence of the immunogenicity response, followed by BNT162b2, AZD1222, and BBIBP-CorV. The responses between full and half doses of mRNA-1273 were comparable. The percentage reduction of binding antibody ranged from 50 % to 75 % among all booster vaccine.

Conclusions: The antibody response substantially waned after 90-120 days post-booster dose. The heterologous mRNA and the viral vector booster demonstrated higher detectable rate of humoral immune responses against the Omicron variant compared to the inactivated BBIBP booster. Nevertheless, an additional fourth dose is recommended to maintain immune response against infection.

Keywords: COVID-19 vaccine; CoronaVac; Durability; Heterologous booster; Neutralizing antibody; Omicron.