Immunogenicity and Safety of the inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccine (BBIBP-CoV) in patients with malignancy

Ariamanesh, M.; Porouhan, P.; PeyroShabany, B.; Fazilat-Panah, D.; Dehghani, M.; Nabavifard, M.; Hatami, F.; Fereidouni, M.; Welsh, J. S.; Javadinia, S. A.

Objective: Patients with malignancy suffer from a compromised immune system due to either the effects of malignancies or treatments. Cancer patients are at higher risk of different infections particularly SARS-CoV2 and usually produce weaker response to vaccines. The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and immunogenicity of the inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccine (Sinopharm, BBIBP-CoV) in patients with malignancy. Material and Method: In total 364 patients with cancer (median age: 54 years old, F/M ratio: 217/147) who received two doses of Sinopharm vaccine were enrolled in this study. Vaccine related side effects was assessed by a questionnaire and the presence of SARS-CoV-2 anti-Spike protein (S) IgG and neutralizing antibody two months following vaccination were measured by immunological methods. Results: Injection site pain and fever were the most common local and systemic side effects in vaccine receivers. Two months after the first dose, anti-S IgG and neutralizing antibody were detectable in 77.1% and 80.7% of all participants, respectively with an overall response to either or both measured in 86.9% of patients The rate of seroconversion was lower in older age, those with hematological malignancies and chemotherapy receivers. Conclusion: The result of study confirmed the safety and short-term efficacy of Sinopharm inactivated vaccine (BBIBP-CorV) in patients with different type of malignancies.