An interesting preprint in bio RXIV by Forgacs and others in May reviewed this subject. As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, the authorisation of vaccines for emergency use has been crucial in slowing down the rate of infection and transmission of the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
In order to investigate the longitudinal serological responses to SARS-CoV-2 natural infection and vaccination, a large scale, multiyear, serosurveillance programme was initiated at four locations in the United States. The serological assay presented measured IgG binding to the SARS-CoV-2 receptor binding domain, RBD detectable antibodies elicited by SARS-CoV-2 infection or vaccination with a 95.5% sensitivity and a 95.9 specificity. They used this assay to screen more than 3100 participants and selected 20 previously infected pre-immune and 32 immunologically naive participants to analyse their antibody binding to RBD and viral neutralisation responses following vaccination with two doses of either Pfizer or the Moderna vaccine.
Vaccination not only elicited a more robust immune reaction than natural infection, but the level of neutralising an anti-RBD antibody binding after vaccination is also significantly higher in pre-immune participants compared to immunologically naive participants.
Furthermore, the administration of the second vaccination did not further increase the neutralising or binding antibody levels in pre-immune participants. However, the immunologically naive participants required both vaccinations to seroconvert.
The London General Practice, the leading London Doctor’s clinic encourages all those eligible to be vaccinated. It commends the Government on its vaccination programme.
Dr Paul Ettlinger
Founder, The London General Practice