SARS-CoV-2: comparison of IgG levels at 9 months post second dose of vaccination in COVID-survivor and COVID-naïve healthcare workers

Authors

  • Shagun B. Shah Department of Anaesthesia, Rajiv Gandhi Cancer Institute and Research Centre, Rohini, Delhi, India http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9178-7958
  • Rajiv Chawla Department of Anaesthesia, Rajiv Gandhi Cancer Institute and Research Centre, Rohini, Delhi, India
  • Sudhir K. Rawal Department of Surgical Oncology, Rajiv Gandhi Cancer Institute and Research Centre, Rohini, Delhi, India
  • Anurag Mehta Department of Laboratory and Transfusion Medicine, Rajiv Gandhi Cancer Institute and Research Centre, Rohini, Delhi, India
  • Anuj Parkash Department of Laboratory and Transfusion Medicine, Rajiv Gandhi Cancer Institute and Research Centre, Rohini, Delhi, India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18203/2320-6012.ijrms20221189

Keywords:

COVID-19, Immunity, Vaccine

Abstract

Background: Natural (asymptomatic/symptomatic COVID-19 infection) and artificial (vaccination) exposure to the pathogen represent two modes of acquiring active immunity. No definitive guidelines exist regarding whether COVID-survivors (with infection/re-infection/re-re-infection in the three COVID-19 waves) require a modified vaccination schedule. Most countries are offering a third vaccine dose and many are contemplating a fourth dose. Our aim was to gauge the IgG-antibody levels 9m post second vaccination in healthcare workers (HCW) and compare these with IgG-levels 1m post-vaccination in the same cohort for any decline, and to compare the post-vaccination IgG-levels in COVID-survivors and COVID-naïve HCW at 9m.

Methods: This prospective observational single-centric cohort study included 63 HCW of either sex, aged 18-70y who completed 9m post-vaccination. The IgG-titre was tested at 9-10m post second vaccination in COVID-survivors and COVID-naïve HCW.

Results: At 1m and 9m post-vaccination IgG-levels in COVID-survivors (23.097±4.58 and 15.103±4.367 respectively; p<0.0001) and COVID-naïve HCW (16.277±6.36 and 9.793±6.928 respectively; p=0.0013) had unequal variance (Welsch test; p=0.0022 at 9m). 9/31 COVID-naïve HCW but none of the 32 COVID-survivors tested COVID-positive in the second wave post second vaccination. 11/31 and 3/32 HCW belonging to the former and latter groups developed COVID-19 in the third wave consequently deferring their third/precautionary vaccination.

Conclusions: Although HCW with IgG-levels in all brackets developed COVID-19, the severity of symptoms corresponded with the IgG-levels. COVID-19 is here to stay, but in peaceful co-existence in endemic proportions. Considering evidence that immunity acquired by vaccination/natural infection is ephemeral, re-invention of vaccines to match the ever-mutating virus is foreseen.  

Author Biographies

Shagun B. Shah, Department of Anaesthesia, Rajiv Gandhi Cancer Institute and Research Centre, Rohini, Delhi, India

Senior Consultant

Department of Anaesthesia and Critical Care

Rajiv Chawla, Department of Anaesthesia, Rajiv Gandhi Cancer Institute and Research Centre, Rohini, Delhi, India

Director and Head

Department of Anaesthesia and Critical Care

Sudhir K. Rawal, Department of Surgical Oncology, Rajiv Gandhi Cancer Institute and Research Centre, Rohini, Delhi, India

Medical Director 

Department of Surgical Oncology

Anurag Mehta, Department of Laboratory and Transfusion Medicine, Rajiv Gandhi Cancer Institute and Research Centre, Rohini, Delhi, India

Director, Department of Laboratory and Transfusion medicine

Anuj Parkash, Department of Laboratory and Transfusion Medicine, Rajiv Gandhi Cancer Institute and Research Centre, Rohini, Delhi, India

Senior Biochemist and Quality Manager- Laboratory services

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Published

2022-04-26

How to Cite

Shah, S. B., Chawla, R., Rawal, S. K., Mehta, A., & Parkash, A. (2022). SARS-CoV-2: comparison of IgG levels at 9 months post second dose of vaccination in COVID-survivor and COVID-naïve healthcare workers. International Journal of Research in Medical Sciences, 10(5), 1139–1144. https://doi.org/10.18203/2320-6012.ijrms20221189

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Original Research Articles