Antibody Responses to BNT162b2 Vaccination in Japan: Monitoring Vaccine Efficacy by Measuring IgG Antibodies against the Receptor-Binding Domain of SARS-CoV-2
Hidetsugu Fujigaki, Yasuko Yamamoto, Takenao Koseki, Sumi Banno, Tatsuya Ando, Hiroyasu Ito, Takashi Fujita, Hiroyuki Naruse, Tadayoshi Hata, Saya Moriyama, Yoshimasa Takahashi, Tadaki Suzuki, Takahiro Murakami, Yukihiro Yoshida, Yo Yagura, Takayoshi Oyamada, Masao Takemura, Masashi Kondo, Mitsunaga Iwata, Kuniaki Saito
Abstract
Mass vaccination campaigns using mRNA vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 have begun in many countries. Serological assays to detect antibody production may be a useful tool to monitor the efficacy of SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in individuals. Here, we reported the induction of antibody isotype responses after the first and second dose of the BNT162b2 vaccine in a well-defined cohort of employees in Japan. We also reported that age, gender, and hypertension are associated with differences in antibody response after vaccination. This study not only provides valuable information with respect to antibody responses after BNT162b2 vaccination in the Japanese population but also the usefulness of serological assays for monitoring vaccine efficacy in clinical laboratories to determine a personalized vaccination strategy for COVID-19.