The impact of Bacillus Calmette-Guérin vaccination on antibody response after COVID-19 vaccination.

Abstract

Earlier studies showed that BCG vaccination improves antibody responses of subsequent vaccinations. Similarly, in older volunteers we found an increased IgG receptor-binding domain (RBD) concentration after SARS-CoV-2 infection if they were recently vaccinated with BCG. This study aims to assess the effect of BCG on the serum antibody concentrations induced by COVID-19 vaccination in a population of adults older than 60 years. Serum was collected from 1,555 participants of the BCG-CORONA-ELDERLY trial a year after BCG or placebo, and we analyzed the anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody concentrations using a fluorescent-microsphere-based multiplex immunoassay. Individuals who received the full primary COVID-19 vaccination series before serum collection and did not test positive for SARS-CoV-2 between inclusion and serum collection were included in analyses (n = 945). We found that BCG vaccination before first COVID-19 vaccine (median 347 days [IQR 329-359]) did not significantly impact the IgG RBD concentration after COVID-19 vaccination in an older European population.

• Authors: Esther J M Taks, Simone J C F M Moorlag, Konstantin Föhse, Elles Simonetti, Christa E van der Gaast-de Jongh, Cornelis H van Werkhoven, Marc J M Bonten, Jaap Ten Oever, Marien I de Jonge, Janneke H H M van de Wijgert, Mihai G Netea
• Journal: iScience (iScience) Vol. 26 Issue 11 Pg. 108062 (Nov 17 2023) ISSN: 2589-0042 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 37860692 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: © 2023 The Author(s).