Antibody levels following vaccination against SARS-CoV-2: associations with post-vaccination infection and risk factors
Authors: Cheetham Nathan J. , Kibble Milla , Wong Andrew , Silverwood Richard J. , Knuppel Anika , Williams Dylan M. , Hamilton Olivia K. L. , Lee Paul H. , Staatz Charis Bridger , Gessa Giorgio Di , Zhu Jingmin , Katikireddi Srinivasa Vittal , Ploubidis George B. , Thompson Ellen J. , Bowyer Ruth C. E. , Zhang Xinyuan , Abbasian Golboo , Garcia Maria Paz , Hart Deborah , Seow Jeffrey , Graham Carl , Kouphou Neophytos , Acors Sam , Malim Michael H. , Mitchell Ruth E. , Northstone Kate , Major-Smith Daniel , Matthews Sarah , Breeze Thomas , Crawford Michael , Molloy Lynn , Kwong Alex S. F. , Doores Katie J. , Chaturvedi Nishi , Duncan Emma L. , Timpson Nicholas J. , Steves Claire J. 
Published: May 2022

SARS-CoV-2 antibody levels can be used to assess humoral immune responses following SARS-CoV-2 infection or vaccination, and may predict risk of future infection. From cross-sectional antibody testing of 9,361 individuals from TwinsUK and ALSPAC UK population-based longitudinal studies (jointly in April-May 2021, and TwinsUK only in November 2021-January 2022), we tested associations between antibody levels following vaccination and: (1) SARS-CoV-2 infection following vaccination(s); (2) health, socio-demographic, SARS-CoV-2 infection and SARS-CoV-2 vaccination variables.

Within TwinsUK, single-vaccinated individuals with the lowest 20% of anti-Spike antibody levels at initial testing had 3-fold greater odds of SARS-CoV-2 infection over the next six to nine months, compared to the top 20%. In TwinsUK and ALSPAC, individuals identified as at increased risk of COVID-19 complication through the UK “Shielded Patient List” had consistently greater odds (2 to 4-fold) of having antibody levels in the lowest 10%. Third vaccination increased absolute antibody levels for almost all individuals, and reduced relative disparities compared with earlier vaccinations.

These findings quantify the association between antibody level and risk of subsequent infection, and support a policy of triple vaccination for the generation of protective antibodies.

Lay summary

In this study, we analysed blood samples from 9,361 participants from two studies in the UK: an adult twin registry, TwinsUK (4,739 individuals); and the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children, ALSPAC (4,622 individuals). We did this work as part of the UK Government National Core Studies initiative researching COVID-19. We measured blood antibodies which are specific to SARS-CoV-2 (which causes COVID-19). Having a third COVID-19 vaccination boosted antibody levels. More than 90% of people from TwinsUK had levels after third vaccination that were greater than the average level after second vaccination. Importantly, this was the case even in individuals on the UK “Shielded Patient List”. We found that people with lower antibody levels after first vaccination were more likely to report having COVID-19 later on, compared to people with higher antibody levels. People on the UK “Shielded Patient List”, and individuals who reported that they had poorer general health, were more likely to have lower antibody levels after vaccination. In contrast, people who had had a previous COVID-19 infection were more likely to have higher antibody levels following vaccination compared to people without infection. People receiving the Oxford/AstraZeneca rather than the Pfizer BioNTech vaccine had lower antibody levels after one or two vaccinations. However, after a third vaccination, there was no difference in antibody levels between those who had Oxford/AstraZeneca and Pfizer BioNTech vaccines for their first two doses. These findings support having a third COVID-19 vaccination to boost antibodies.