COVID-19 vaccination and IgG and IgA antibody dynamics in healthcare workers

Zurac, Sabina; Nichita, Luciana; Mateescu, Bogdan; Mogodici, Cristian; Bastian, Alexandra; Popp, Cristiana; Cioplea, Mirela; Socoliuc, Claudiu; Constantin, Carolina; Neagu, Monica

Given the current outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and the development and implementation of mass vaccination, data are being obtained by analyzing vaccination campaigns. In the present study, 69 healthcare workers who were exposed to patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 were monitored for specific immunoglobulin (Ig)G and IgA levels at different time periods. Prior to vaccination, after the first round of vaccination at 21 days (when the second dose of vaccine was administrated) and 24 days after the second round of vaccination, with an mRNA-based vaccine. The basal IgG and IgA levels in previously infected subjects and non-infected subjects notably differed. Vaccination increased the IgG and IgA levels after the first dose in most subjects from both groups, the levels of which further increased following the second round of vaccination. The associations between IgG and IgA levels following the first and second rounds of vaccination demonstrated that in the entire vaccination group, regardless of prior exposure to the infectious agent, the increment and levels of IgG and IgA were similar. Thus, the levels upon vaccination were statistically similar irrespective of the starting base line prior to vaccination. In the present study, seroconversion was achieved in all subjects following the second round of vaccination, with similar antibodies levels.