In a recent development, researchers at Karolinska Institutet and Danderyd Hospital have conducted a comprehensive analysis of the antibody response among recipients of the newly updated COVID-19 vaccine. The study, part of the ongoing COMMUNITY study, reveals a remarkably strong immune response against the prevalent and highly mutated omicron variants.
The COMMUNITY study, initiated in spring 2020 with regular testing of 2,149 Danderyd Hospital staff members, has reported its latest findings from the autumn leg of the research. The results, soon to be published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases and available on the pre-print server bioRxiv, highlight the effectiveness of the updated vaccine.
The study involved 24 participants, predominantly aged over 64, who had previously received four or five vaccine doses. Previous updates of the COVID-19 vaccine exhibited a stronger antibody response to the original SARS-CoV-2 variant than to omicron. Given the global dominance of omicron variants, including the rise of the omicron XBB variant and its sub-variants, scientists developed vaccines targeting these strains. However, concerns arose regarding the protection against newer and highly mutated variants like BA.2.86.
The latest findings present a promising outcome, demonstrating a 10-fold increase in antibodies not only against omicron XBB but also against newer and more mutated strains, such as BA.2.86.
Researcher Charlotte Thålin of Karolinska Institutet and Danderyd Hospital, who heads the COMMUNITY study, expresses optimism, stating, "It's good to see that the new updated vaccine induces such a broad antibody response." The study suggests that the updated vaccine, designed specifically for omicron, elicits a comprehensive immune response, different from previous updates adapted to the original virus.
Ulrika Marking, the first author of the paper and a doctoral student at Karolinska Institutet, underscores the significance of the findings, stating, "We're seeing a sharper rise than we'd been hoping for in the neutralizing antibodies against all the new variants we'd tested." The study strongly supports the notion that the updated vaccine provides cross-protection against various variants, reinforcing the recommendation for vaccination among older individuals and those at risk for influenza and COVID-19.
The collaborative COMMUNITY study involves Danderyd Hospital, Karolinska Institutet, the Swedish Public Health Agency, Uppsala University, and SciLifeLab. Minor adjustments may occur in the scientific article before its final publication in The Lancet Infectious Diseases.
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