SARS-CoV-2 spike mRNA vaccine sequences circulate in blood up to 28 days after COVID-19 vaccination

APMIS. 2023 Mar;131(3):128-132. doi: 10.1111/apm.13294. Epub 2023 Jan 29.

Abstract

In Denmark, vaccination against Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Corona Virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has been with the Pfizer-BioNTech (BTN162b2) or the Moderna (mRNA-1273) mRNA vaccines. Patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection followed in our clinic received mRNA vaccinations according to the Danish roll-out vaccination plan. To monitor HCV infection, RNA was extracted from patient plasma and RNA sequencing was performed on the Illumina platform. In 10 of 108 HCV patient samples, full-length or traces of SARS-CoV-2 spike mRNA vaccine sequences were found in blood up to 28 days after COVID-19 vaccination. Detection of mRNA vaccine sequences in blood after vaccination adds important knowledge regarding this technology and should lead to further research into the design of lipid-nanoparticles and the half-life of these and mRNA vaccines in humans.

Keywords: Hepatitis C virus; SARS-CoV-2; blood; mRNA; vaccine.

MeSH terms

  • Antibodies, Viral
  • COVID-19 Vaccines
  • COVID-19* / prevention & control
  • Hepacivirus
  • Hepatitis C*
  • Hepatitis C, Chronic*
  • Humans
  • SARS-CoV-2 / genetics
  • Vaccination

Substances

  • COVID-19 Vaccines
  • Antibodies, Viral