Antibody response to different COVID-19 vaccines among the migrant workers of Bangladesh

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Md Imam Hossain, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Dhaka, Bangladesh; Protim Sarker, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Dhaka; Rubhana Raqib, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Dhaka, Bangladesh; Mid Ziaur Rahman, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Dhaka; Rezaul Hasan, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Dhaka; Chloe KK Svezia, Emory University; Mahbubur Rahman, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Dhaka, Bangladesh; Nuhu Amin, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Dhaka
• Language: English
• Date: 2023-03-09
• Publisher: FRONTIERS MEDIA SA
• Publication Version: Final Published Version
• Copyright Statement: © 2023 Hossain, Sarker, Raqib, Rahman, Hasan, Svezia, Rahman and Amin
• License: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Final Published Version (URL): http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2023.1128330
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
• Volume: 14
• Start Page: 1128330
• End Page: 1128330
• Grant/Funding Information: We sincerely thank the International SOS, Singapore, and Oasis Group, Dhaka, Bangladesh for the funding support and collaboration to conduct the study. icddr,b is also grateful to the governments of Bangladesh, Canada, Sweden, and the United Kingdom for providing core/unrestricted support.
• Keywords: anti-spike-antibody; Immunology; PROTEIN; Life Sciences & Biomedicine; booster dose; mRNA vaccines; Science & Technology; INFECTION; VACCINATION; Bangladeshi migrant workers; CORONAVIRUS; seroconversion; SARS-CoV-2
• Research Categories: Health Sciences, Public Health

Abstract

Background: Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, various host countries such as Singapore, imposed entry requirements for migrant workers including pre-departure COVID-19 seroconversion proof. To combat COVID-19 worldwide, several vaccines have acquired conditional approval. This study sought to assess antibody levels after immunization with different COVID-19 vaccines among the migrant workers of Bangladesh. Methods: Venous blood samples were collected from migrant workers who were vaccinated with different COVID-19 vaccines (n=675). Antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 spike protein (S) and nucleocapsid protein (N) were determined using Roche Elecsys® Anti-SARS-CoV-2 S and N immunoassay, respectively. Results: All participants receiving COVID-19 vaccines showed antibodies to S-protein, while 91.36% were positive for N-specific antibodies. The highest anti-S antibody titers were found among the workers who completed booster doses (13327 U/mL), received mRNA vaccines Moderna/Spikevax (9459 U/mL) or Pfizer-BioNTech/Comirnaty (9181 U/mL), and reported SARS-CoV-2 infection in the last six months (8849 U/mL). The median anti-S antibody titers in the first month since the last vaccination was 8184 U/mL, which declined to 5094 U/mL at the end of six months. A strong correlation of anti-S antibodies was found with past SARS-CoV-2 infection (p < 0.001) and the type of vaccines received (p <0.001) in the workers. Conclusion: Bangladeshi migrant workers receiving booster doses of vaccine, vaccinated with mRNA vaccines, and having past SARS-CoV-2 infection, mounted higher antibody responses. However, antibody levels waned with time. These findings suggest a need for further booster doses, preferably with mRNA vaccines for migrant workers before reaching host countries.