1356. "Correlates of protection against SARS-CoV-2 post-vaccine infections in the Prospective Assessment of SARS-CoV-2 Seroconversion (PASS) Study" Open Access

We sought to determine pre-infection correlates of protection against SARS-CoV-2 post-vaccine infections.

Serum and saliva samples from 176 BNT162b2-vaccinated adults in the Prospective Assessment of SARS-CoV-2 Seroconversion study were collected between October and December 2021 and assessed for serum and saliva levels of ancestral (WT) SARS-CoV-2 Spike (S)-specific IgG and IgA binding antibodies (bAb), and serum levels of Omicron BA.1 subvariant S-specific IgG bAb using a multiplex microsphere-based immunoassay. Serum samples were also assessed for WT S-specific bAb by two commercial assays, and neutralization activity against D614G, Delta (617.2), and Omicron BA.1 and BA.1.1 subvariants using a lentiviral pseudovirus neutralization assay. After the fall 2021 visit, participants reported all positive PCR and/or antigen tests for SARS-CoV-2. Duration, severity, and type of symptoms, as well as risk exposures and adherence to precautionary measures, were assessed by questionnaires during the spring 2022 visit.

Thirty-two participants (18.2%) developed post-vaccination infections (PVI) between December 7, 2021 and April 1, 2022. Pre-infection WT and BA.1 anti-S IgG bAb levels measured by MMIA and neutralizing titers (NT) against BA.1 and BA.1.1 were significantly higher in individuals that did not develop PVIs. WT anti-S IgG bAb levels greater than 5,000 binding antibody units/ml were associated with substantial protection against symptomatic PVI.

Anti-S IgG bAb levels (directed against either WT or BA.1) and NT IgG titers both serve as correlates of protection against symptomatic PVI, with high levels associated with both protection against symptomatic infection and reduced severity of disease in those who develop PVI. Results of this study also suggest that commercial assays for anti-S bAb may need to be reformatted to enable detection of higher maximum values for use as predictors of increased susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 infection.

David Tribble, MD, DrPH, AstraZeneca: The IDCRP and HJF were funded to conduct an unrelated phase III COVID-19 monoclonal antibody immunoprophylaxis trial as part of US Govt COVID response Timothy Burgess, MD, MPH, AstraZeneca: The IDCRP and the Henry M. Jackson Foundation (HJF) were funded to conduct an unrelated phase III COVID-19 monoclonal antibody immunoprophylaxis trial Simon Pollett, MBBS, AstraZeneca: The IDCRP and the Henry M. Jackson Foundation (HJF) were funded to conduct an unrelated phase III COVID-19 monoclonal antibody immunoprophylaxis trial