Abstract
This study investigated the response to BNT162b2 mRNA COVID-19 vaccine among healthcare workers (HCWs) in an Italian teaching hospital. 444 participants were surveyed with either multiple RT-PCR assays for detection of SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid in nasopharyngeal swabs or serology testing for the research of virus-specific immunoglobulins. Adverse events following immunization (AEFI) were reported. Two weeks after the first dose anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies exceeded reactivity cut-off in 82.5% the participants. Four HCWs tested positive at nasopharyngeal swab after 3 months. More than three-quarters reported AEFIs. Our findings offer an insight regarding the vaccine response after 3 months from its administration, with a special focus on effectiveness data, as well as the type and number of AEFIs complained by HCW recipients. The presented study may serve as reference for future research which will be necessary to explore the long-term safety of this vaccine, especially in population at high risk for infection, such as HCWs.
Highlights
Effective and timely immunologic response to vaccines is a crucial strategy for the control of the severe acute respiratory syndrome—coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic
We assessed the response to BNT162b2 messenger RNA (mRNA) COVID-19 vaccine in a sample of healthcare workers (HCWs) of an Italian teaching hospital
We present the results of a 3-month longitudinal observational study conducted among the healthcare workers (HCWs) of the Pineta Grande Hospital (Castel Volturno, Caserta, Internal Medicine at the University of Catania (Italy)) with the objective of evaluating the response to the two-dose mRNA vaccine BNT162b2 administered between December 2020 and January 2021
Summary
Effective and timely immunologic response to vaccines is a crucial strategy for the control of the severe acute respiratory syndrome—coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic. The two-dose messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccine BNT162b2 showed an efficacy of 94.8% against novel coronavirus. Its immune response is direct against the SARS-CoV-2 S1 spike protein, and antibody titers are associated with functional virus neutralization [1]. After a positive assessment of safety and efficacy for BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine granted by different national and international regulatory agencies, a global vaccination campaigns targeted healthcare workers (HCWs) as the first vaccinees, both for ensuring their protection and safety at work, and the sustainability of healthcare systems [2, 3]. We assessed the response to BNT162b2 mRNA COVID-19 vaccine in a sample of HCWs of an Italian teaching hospital
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