Lung Transplant Recipients Immunogenicity after Heterologous ChAdOx1 nCoV-19-BNT162b2 mRNA Vaccination

Viruses. 2022 Jul 2;14(7):1470. doi: 10.3390/v14071470.

Abstract

(1) Background: High immunosuppressive regimen in lung transplant recipients (LTRs) hampers the immune response to vaccination. We prospectively investigated the immunogenicity of heterologous ChAdOx1 nCoV-19-BNT162b2 mRNA vaccination in an LTR cohort. (2) Methods: Forty-nine COVID-19 naïve LTRs received a two-dose regimen ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine. A subset of 32 patients received a booster dose of BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine 18 weeks after the second dose. (3) Results: Two-doses of ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 induced poor immunogenicity with 7.2% seropositivity at day 180 and low neutralizing capacities. The BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine induced significant increases in IgG titers with means of 197.8 binding antibody units per milliliter (BAU/mL) (95% CI 0-491.4) and neutralizing antibodies, with means of 76.6 AU/mL (95% CI 0-159.6). At day 238, 32.2% of LTRs seroconverted after the booster dose. Seroneutralization capacities against Delta and Omicron variants were found in only 13 and 9 LTRs, respectively. Mycophenolate mofetil and high-dose corticosteroids were associated with a weak serological response. (4) Conclusions: The immunogenicity of a two-dose ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine regimen was very poor in LTRs, but was significantly enhanced after the booster dose in one-third of LTRs. In immunocompromised individuals, the administration of a fourth dose may be considered to increase the immune response against SARS-CoV-2.

Keywords: BNT162b2 mRNA; COVID-19; ChAdOx1 nCoV-19; SARS-CoV-2; heterologous vaccination; lung transplant recipients; vaccination.

MeSH terms

  • Antibodies, Viral
  • BNT162 Vaccine* / immunology
  • COVID-19 / prevention & control
  • ChAdOx1 nCoV-19* / immunology
  • Humans
  • Lung Transplantation*
  • Transplant Recipients*

Substances

  • Antibodies, Viral
  • ChAdOx1 nCoV-19
  • BNT162 Vaccine

Supplementary concepts

  • SARS-CoV-2 variants

Grants and funding

This research received no external funding.