Association of neutralizing breadth against SARS-CoV-2 with inoculation orders of heterologous prime-boost vaccines

Med, 2022 · DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.medj.2022.05.003 · Published: August 12, 2022

Simple Explanation

This study examined the impact of heterologous COVID-19 vaccination on immune responses. The inoculation order of heterologous vaccines affected serum neutralization breadth against SARS-CoV-2 variants. Heterologous booster vaccines with high potency could be a cost-efﬁcient way to elicit protective immunity against future variants.

Study Duration

Not specified

Participants

486 healthcare workers

Evidence Level

Not specified

Key Findings

1
Strongest serum neutralization activity against the SARS-CoV-2 variant B.1.617.2 among recipients of heterologous BBIBP-CorV/CoronaVac and WIBP-CorV/CoronaVac.
2
Recipients of CoronaVac/BBIBP-CorV and CoronaVac/WIBP-CorV showed signiﬁcantly lower B.1.617.2 neutralization titers than recipients of reverse schedules.
3
The inoculation order of heterologous vaccines was associated with neutralization titers against B.1.617.2 but not Wuhan-Hu-1.

Research Summary

This study investigated the impact of heterologous prime-boost COVID-19 vaccination schedules on antibody response against SARS-CoV-2 variants in healthcare workers. The researchers found that the order in which different vaccines are administered affects the breadth of serum neutralization activity against SARS-CoV-2 variants. The findings suggest that using heterologous booster vaccines with high potency could be a cost-effective strategy against future variants.

Practical Implications

Vaccine Strategy

Using potent booster vaccines in heterologous prime-boost schedules to counter the antigen drift of SARS-CoV-2 variants.

Public Health

Heterologous vaccination might represent a more efﬁcient strategy using existing stockpiles to protect against future variants.

Immunogenicity

Using less immunogenic vaccines as primer might not compromise the neutralization activity against variants elicited by more potent booster vaccines because of enhanced neutralizing breadth.

Study Limitations

1
The non-randomized and observational nature made the conclusions prone to confounding effects and precluded any causal interpretation of the ﬁndings.
2
Heterologous vaccination in the prime-boost schedule with 1-month interval between shots was not a standard practice for the public at the time of this study.
3
Lack of neutralization assays based on live viruses.

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