Preprint Article Version 1 Preserved in Portico This version is not peer-reviewed

The Distinct Absence of a Post-boost Spike-IgG Antibody Surge in Ugandan Recipients of the Pfizer-BioNTech Vaccine Has Implications for Vaccination Policies

Jennifer Serwanga
* ,
Violet Ankunda
,
Joseph Ssebwana Katende
ORCID logo ,
Jackson Sembera
,
Gerald Kevin Oluka
,
Claire Baine
,
Geoffrey Odoch
,
Peter Ejou
,
Laban Kato
,
The COVID-19 Immunoprofiling Team
,
Pontiano Kaleebu
Version 1 : Received: 6 October 2023 / Approved: 6 October 2023 / Online: 9 October 2023 (04:35:48 CEST)

How to cite: Serwanga, J.; Ankunda, V.; Katende, J.S.; Sembera, J.; Oluka, G.K.; Baine, C.; Odoch, G.; Ejou, P.; Kato, L.; Immunoprofiling Team, T.C.; Kaleebu, P. The Distinct Absence of a Post-boost Spike-IgG Antibody Surge in Ugandan Recipients of the Pfizer-BioNTech Vaccine Has Implications for Vaccination Policies. Preprints 2023, 2023100379. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202310.0379.v1 Serwanga, J.; Ankunda, V.; Katende, J.S.; Sembera, J.; Oluka, G.K.; Baine, C.; Odoch, G.; Ejou, P.; Kato, L.; Immunoprofiling Team, T.C.; Kaleebu, P. The Distinct Absence of a Post-boost Spike-IgG Antibody Surge in Ugandan Recipients of the Pfizer-BioNTech Vaccine Has Implications for Vaccination Policies. Preprints 2023, 2023100379. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202310.0379.v1

Abstract

This study aimed to delineate the longitudinal antibody responses to the Pfizer- BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine (BNT162b2) within the Ugandan subset of the Sub-Saharan African (SSA) demographic, filling a significant gap in global datasets. We enrolled 48 participants, collecting 320 specimens over 12 months after vaccination. A validated enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to quantify SARS-CoV-2-specific IgG, IgM, and IgA concentrations (ng/ml) and optical densities (ODs). Statistical analyses included box plots, diverging bar graphs, and the Wilcoxon test with Bonferroni correction. We showed a robust SIgG response within 14 days of the primary vaccine dose, consistent with global data. Remarkably, we observed no significant surge in S-IgG levels following the booster, contrasting trends other global populations. The S-IgM response was transient, and predominantly established thresholds, reflecting its typical early emergence and subsequent decline. S-IgA increased initially but declined six months post-vaccination, in line with the temporal dynamics of mucosal immunity. Eleven breakthrough infections occurred; however, all were asymptomatic, indicating a protective effect from the vaccination regardless of the participants' initial S-IgG serostatus. The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine elicited strong S-IgG responses in the SSA demographic. However, antibody dynamics distinctly differed from global data highlight the significance of region-specific research and the necessity for customized vaccination strategies.

Keywords

Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine; SSA, S-IgG antibody dynamics; S-IgM; S-IgA; SARS-CoV-2; breakthrough Infections

Subject

Biology and Life Sciences, Immunology and Microbiology

Copyright: This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

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