Safety and Humoral and Cellular Immunogenicity of the BNT162b2 SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine in Liver-Transplanted Adolescents Compared to Healthy Adolescents

Abstract

Since BNT162b2 was approved to prevent COVID-19 in children, we aim to compare the safety and immunogenicity of the BNT162b2 vaccine in liver-transplanted (LT) and healthy adolescents. LT and healthy adolescents received two doses of 30 µg of BNT162b2. All were evaluated for total COVID-19 antibodies directed against the receptor-binding domain (RBD) and interferon-γ using the ELISpot at all time points; anti-nucleocapsid immunoglobulin was evaluated at week 8 and the surrogate virus-neutralizing antibody (sVN) to Omicron at day 0 and week 8. Adverse effects were recorded during days 0–7. In total, 16 LT and 27 healthy adolescents were enrolled (aged 14.78 ± 1.70 years). After completion, all LT and healthy adolescents were positive for anti-RBD immunoglobulin, with geometric mean titers of 1511.37 (95% CI 720.22–3171.59) and 6311.90 (95% CI 4955.46–8039.64)) U/mL (p < 0.001). All tested negative for anti-nucleocapsid immunoglobulin, indicating no COVID-19 infection after vaccination. However, the sVNs to Omicron were positive in only nine (33.33%) healthy adolescents and none of the LT adolescents. Interferon-γ-secreting cells were lower in LT adolescents than healthy adolescents. The LT adolescents had a lower immunogenic response to BNT162b2 than the healthy adolescents. Administrating two doses of BNT162b2 was safe, but was less effective against the Omicron variant.