Immunogenicity and safety of SARS-CoV-2 vaccine with immunosuppressive agents

We conducted a prospective study of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccination in children and adolescents who were taking immunosuppressive agents.

Two doses of SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccine were administered to patients taking immunosuppressive agents. Titers of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein receptor-binding domain antibodies were measured before and after vaccination. Vaccine failure was defined as a postvaccination antibody titer of <0.8 U/mL. Seroconversion rates, factors associated with antibody titers after vaccination, clinical effectiveness against breakthrough infection, and adverse events were evaluated.

A total of 42 patients (median age, 18.1 years) were enrolled. Immunogenicity was measured in 34 patients. The median SARS-CoV-2 spike antibody titer was 329 U/mL (interquartile range [IQR] 50-812 U/mL). Seroconversion (≥0.8 U/mL) was achieved in 29 patients (85%), whereas vaccine failure was diagnosed in five (15%). All patients with vaccine failure were recipients of solid organ transplants (SOTs) and were taking two immunosuppressants. The median antibody titer in SOT recipients (57 U/mL) was significantly lower than that in non-recipients (653 U/mL, P = 0.0002); that of patients taking two immunosuppressive agents (93 U/mL) was lower than that of patients taking one (506 U/mL, P = 0.003). Breakthrough infection occurred in three patients (7%). Adverse events were non-specific, and no flares of primary disease or acute rejection in SOT recipients occurred.

SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccine was immunogenic in children and adolescents taking immunosuppressive agents, although SOT recipients and patients taking two immunosuppressive agents tended to show lower postvaccination antibody titers.