Development of hybrid immunity during a period of high incidence of infections with Omicron subvariants: A prospective population based multi-region cohort study
Authors: Frei Anja , Kaufmann Marco , Amati Rebecca , Dettwiler Audrey Butty , Wyl Viktor von , Annoni Anna Maria , Pellaton Céline , Pantaleo Giuseppe , Fehr Jan S. , D’Acremont Valérie , Bochud Murielle , Albanese Emiliano , Puhan Milo A. 
Published: October 2022

Background

Seroprevalence and the proportion of people with neutralizing activity against SARS-CoV-2 variants was high in early 2022. Since it is unclear how immunity in the general population evolves, the aim of this study was to assess the development of functional and hybrid immunity in the general population during a period of high incidence of infections with Omicron variants.

Methods

This prospective population based multi-region cohort study is part of the Corona Immunitas research programme in Switzerland. In March 2022, we randomly selected individuals from the general population in southern (canton of Ticino) and north-eastern (canton of Zurich) Switzerland, who were assessed again in June/July 2022. We supplemented the June/July 2022 sample with a random sample from western Switzerland (canton of Vaud). We assessed SARS-CoV-2 specific IgG antibodies against spike and nucleocapsid proteins and the presence of SARS-CoV-2 neutralising antibodies against three variants (wildtype, Delta, Omicron).

Findings

In June/July 2022, seroprevalence was >98% in 2553 individuals from the general Swiss population. The proportion of individuals with neutralising antibodies against wildtype, Delta, and Omicron was 94.2%, 90.8%, and 84.9%, and at least 51% of the participants developed hybrid immunity. Individuals with hybrid immunity had, compared to those with only vaccine- or infection-induced immunity, highest levels of both, anti-spike IgG antibodies titres (4518 vs. 4304 vs. 269 WHO U/ml) and neutralisation capacity against wildtype (99.8% vs. 98% vs. 47.5%), Delta (99% vs. 92.2% vs. 38.7%), and Omicron (96.4% vs. 79.5% vs. 47.5%).

Interpretation

This first study on functional and hybrid immunity in the general population after Omicron waves showed that SARS-CoV-2 has become endemic. The high levels of antibodies and neutralization in the general populations support the emerging recommendations of some countries where booster vaccinations are still strongly recommended for vulnerable persons but less strongly recommended for individuals in the general population.

Funding

The Corona Immunitas research network is coordinated by the Swiss School of Public Health (SSPH+) and funded by fundraising of SSPH+ including funds of the Swiss Federal Office of Public Health and private funders (ethical guidelines for funding stated by SSPH+ were respected), by funds of the cantons of Switzerland (Vaud, Zurich, and Basel), and by institutional funds of the Universities.

Study registration

ISRCTN18181860

Research in context

Evidence before this study

We searched Pubmed, Medline, Scopus and Web of Knowledge, for primary population-based studies prospectively assessing infection-, vaccine-induced, and hybrid immunity and the respective neutralising activity of antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 and its variants of concern. We included articles published between 1 January and 28 September 2022, without language restrictions, and retrieved 540 publications after deduplication. None of the screened studies measured the prevalence of immune response and neutralisation capacity prospectively in population-based, representative samples accounting for type of acquired immunity.

Evidence from five studies, all conducted in non-representative, convenience and relatively small samples (N<254), and/or in sub-populations (e.g., healthcare workers and children), shows that hybrid immunity confers higher immune protection and exhibits better neutralising capacity compared to vaccine- and infection-induced immunity. Furthermore, one of the screened studies highlights that antibodies developed by individuals with hybrid immunity show the slowest decline over a period of 10 months.

Added value of this study

We took advantage of an ongoing cohort study on anti-SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence conducted in a representative sample of the general Swiss population (N=2553) using standard, previously validated methods, to measure changes over time in seroprevalence, neutralisation capacity against wildtype and variants of concerns of the virus (i.e., ACE2r-block), waning of antibodies, and new infections. This is the first study, conducted in the general population and during the pandemic phase characterized by very high incidence of Omicron infections, to assess the extent of hybrid immunity (51%) and neutralising antibodies against the wildtype (94.2%), Delta (90.8%), and Omicron variants (84.9%). Our findings show that individuals with hybrid immunity, compared to those with only vaccine- or infection-induced immunity, had the highest levels of both anti-spike IgG antibodies titres and neutralisation capacity against wildtype, Delta, and Omicron variants. We also found that, from March to June/July 2022, anti-spike IgG antibodies remained stable in the general population (>96%), while anti-nucleocapsid IgG antibodies fluctuated due to their fast waning (7.3% of participants’ anti-nucleocapsid IgG antibodies became undetectable) and the parallel spread of Omicron infections (18.6% of participants acquired anti-nucleocapsid IgG antibodies).

Implications of all the available evidence

By mid-2022, SARS-CoV-2 has become endemic, and a majority of individuals developed hybrid immunity with high levels of neutralisation against the wildtype, Delta, and Omicron variants of SARS-CoV-2. Combined with existing evidence, our results indicate that hybrid immunity confers higher levels of neutralising activity compared to both vaccine-induced and infection-induced immunity. This study extends findings on the immunological protection conferred by hybrid immunity from sub-populations to the general population. The high levels of antibodies and neutralization in the general populations support the emerging recommendations of some countries where booster vaccinations are still strongly recommended for vulnerable persons but less strongly recommended for individuals in the general population. Monitoring the prevalence, waning, and neutralising activity of antibodies against potential new variants of concern in populations remains crucial.