SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity after infection and antibody response to mRNA-based vaccination

Ciccone, E. J.; Zhu, D. R.; Ajeen, R.; Shook-Sa, B. E.; Boyce, R. M.; COVID HCW Study Team,; Aiello, A. E.

The effect of SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity on the immune response to mRNA-based SARS-CoV-2 vaccines has not been well-described. Here we report longitudinal SARS-CoV-2-specific antibody responses pre- and post-vaccination among a cohort of healthcare personnel, with and without prior infection, from a large academic medical center. Our results provide preliminary evidence that prior SARS-CoV-2 infection may prime the response to the first mRNA-based SARS-CoV-2 vaccine dose. These findings could have significant impact on the allocation of mRNA-based vaccines and support the need for future research into the effect of prior infection on magnitude and durability of vaccination response.