COVID-19 Vaccine Side Effects and Long-Term Neutralizing Antibody Response : A Prospective Cohort Study

Area of Science:

• Immunology
• Vaccinology
• Public Health

Background:

• Vaccine hesitancy is often driven by concerns about potential side effects.
• Understanding the relationship between side effects and immune response is crucial for vaccine acceptance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between short-term side effects of SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccination and subsequent neutralizing antibody (nAB) response.
• To determine if common vaccine reactions correlate with long-term immunity.

Main Methods:

• A prospective cohort study was conducted with adults receiving two doses of BNT162b2 or mRNA-1273 vaccines.
• Participants completed daily symptom surveys, and objective biometric measurements were recorded.
• Serum nAB titers were measured at 1 and 6 months post-vaccination.

Main Results:

• Short-term side effects such as chills, tiredness, feeling unwell, and headache were associated with 1.4 to 1.6 fold higher nAB titers.
• Increased symptom count and objective measures like elevated skin temperature and heart rate correlated with higher nAB responses.
• A 1°C increase in skin temperature after the second dose was linked to 1.8-fold higher nAB at 1 month and 3.1-fold higher nAB at 6 months.

Conclusions:

• Short-term systemic side effects following SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccination are associated with more robust and longer-lasting nAB responses.
• These findings could help mitigate vaccine hesitancy by reframing the perception of side effects.
• Further research is needed to assess generalizability to previously vaccinated or exposed individuals and against new SARS-CoV-2 strains.