Impact of timing and combination of different BNT162b2 and ChAdOx1-S COVID-19 basic and booster vaccinations on humoral immunogenicity and reactogenicity in adults

Abstract

In this single-center observational study with 1,206 participants, we prospectively evaluated SARS-CoV-2-antibodies (anti-S RBD) and vaccine-related adverse drug reactions (ADR) after basic and booster immunization with BNT162b2- and ChAdOx1-S-vaccines in four vaccination protocols: Homologous BNT162b2-schedule with second vaccination at either three or six weeks, homologous ChAdOx1-S-vaccination or heterologous ChAdOx1-S/BNT162b2-schedule, each at 12 weeks. All participants received a BNT162b2 booster. Blood samples for anti-S RBD analysis were obtained multiple times over a period of four weeks to six months after basic vaccination, immediately before, and up to three months after booster vaccination. After basic vaccination, the homologous ChAdOx1-S-group showed the lowest anti-S RBD levels over six months, while the heterologous BNT162b2-ChAdOx1-S-group demonstrated the highest anti-S levels, but failed to reach level of significance compared with the homologous BNT162b2-groups. Antibody levels were higher after an extended vaccination interval with BNT162b2. A BNT162b2 booster increased anti-S-levels 11- to 91-fold in all groups, with the homologous ChAdOx1-S-cohort demonstrated the highest increase in antibody levels. No severe or serious ADR were observed. The findings suggest that a heterologous vaccination schedule or prolonged vaccination interval induces robust humoral immunogenicity with good tolerability. Extending the time to boost-immunization is key to both improving antibody induction and reducing ADR rate.