Direct Comparison of Antibody Responses to Four SARS-CoV-2 Vaccines in Mongolia

Dashdorj, N. J.; Wirz, O. F.; Roeltgen, K.; Haraguchi, E.; Buzzanco, A. S.; Sibai, M.; Wang, H.; Miller, J. A.; Solis, D.; Sahoo, M. K.; Byambabaatar, S.; Bat-Ulzii, P.; Enkhbat, A.; Batbold, E.; Zulkhuu, D.; Ochirsum, B.; Khurelsukh, T.; Dalantai, G.; Burged, N.; Baatarsuren, U.; Ariungerel, N.; Oidovsambuu, O.; Bungert, A. S.; Genden, Z.; Yagaanbuyant, D.; Mordorj, A.; Jardetzky, T.; Wilbur, J. L.; Wohlstadter, J. N.; Sigal, G. B.; Pinsky, B. A.; Boyd, S. D.; Dashdorj, N. D.

Different vaccines for SARS-CoV-2 are approved in various countries, but few direct comparisons of the antibody responses they stimulate have been reported. We collected plasma specimens in July 2021 from 196 Mongolian participants fully vaccinated with one of four Covid vaccines: Pfizer/BioNTech, AstraZeneca, Sputnik V and Sinopharm. Functional antibody testing with a panel of nine SARS-CoV-2 viral variant RBD proteins reveal marked differences in the vaccine responses, with low antibody levels and RBD-ACE2 blocking activity stimulated by the Sinopharm and Sputnik V vaccines in comparison to the AstraZeneca or Pfizer/BioNTech vaccines. The Alpha variant caused 97% of infections in Mongolia in June and early July 2021. Individuals who recover from SARS-CoV-2 infection after vaccination achieve high antibody titers in most cases. These data suggest that public health interventions such as vaccine boosting, potentially with more potent vaccine types, may be needed to control the COVID-19 pandemic in Mongolia and worldwide.