Information regarding the protective anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody levels and the effectiveness of the mRNA vaccines against the Omicron variant in patients with haematological malignancies is limited. We prospectively followed two times BNT162b2 vaccinated oncohaematological patients (n = 1010) without prior COVID-19 for PCR-confirmed breakthrough infections during the Alpha/Delta and the Omicron phases of the pandemic. Anti-S1-IgG levels were longitudinally monitored in patients who had received the third (booster) vaccine dose. Patients with anti-S1-IgG levels <50 BAU/mL 1 month after the booster had a higher risk of Omicron infections (RR 1.91; 95% CI 1.39-2.63; p = 0.0001) and severe infections (RR 8.74; 95% CI 3.99-19.1; p < 0.0001). Conversely, the risk of severe COVID-19 was <1% with anti-S1-IgG levels >500 BAU/mL and neutralizing antibody concentrations >50 U/mL. The risks of breakthrough Omicron infections (HR 0.55; 95% CI 0.32-0.96; p = 0.034) and severe COVID-19 (HR 0.27; 95% 0.11-0.7; p = 0.0074) were lower among patients who had received the booster dose. In conclusion, low antibody levels are associated with significantly increased risk of both the breakthrough Omicron infections and severe COVID-19. The third mRNA vaccine dose improved the protection against the Omicron and reduced the risk of severe disease.
Keywords: BNT162b2; Omicron; booster; haematological patients; protection.
© 2023 British Society for Haematology and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.