Comparison of SARS-CoV-2 Antibody Response Following Vaccination With BNT162b2 and mRNA-1273 | Vaccination | JN Learning | AMA Ed Hub [Skip to Content]
Outline
Claim CME
PDF
Vaccination

Comparison of SARS-CoV-2 Antibody Response Following Vaccination With BNT162b2 and mRNA-1273

Educational Objective
To identify the key insights or developments described in this article
1 Credit CME
JAMA
October 19, 2021
Research Letter
Deborah Steensels, PharmD, PhD1;
Noella Pierlet, MSc1;
Joris Penders, MD, PhD1;
Dieter Mesotten, MD, PhD1;
Line Heylen, MD, PhD1
Author Affiliations
  • 1Ziekenhuis Oost-Limburg, Genk, Belgium
Read article on JAMA Network

MOC/CME Information

editorial comment icon
Editorial
Comment
 related articles icon
Related
Articles
 author interview icon
Interviews
 multimedia icon
Multimedia
Read Article Claim CME

The SARS-CoV-2 messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines BNT162b2 (Pfizer-BioNTech) and mRNA-1273 (Moderna) have each shown more than 90% efficacy in preventing COVID-19 illness1,2 but, to our knowledge, humoral immune responses have not been compared directly.

Health care workers at a tertiary care center (Ziekenhuis Oost-Limburg, Belgium) who were scheduled for vaccination with 2 doses of either mRNA-1273 or BNT162b2 were invited to participate in this prospective cohort. Serologic testing was performed prior to vaccination as well as 6 to 10 weeks after the second dose (between April 27 and May 20, 2021). Total immunoglobulin levels to the receptor-binding domain of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein were measured with an anti–SARS-CoV-2 S enzyme immunoassay (Elecsys, Roche Diagnostics International Ltd). After vaccination, antibodies against the SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein were determined. Previous infection was defined as anti-nucleocapsid positivity at any point, anti-spike positivity before vaccination, and/or a history of positive polymerase chain reaction results on nasopharyngeal swab.

Sign in to take quiz and track your certificates

Buy This Activity

JN Learning™ is the home for CME and MOC from the JAMA Network. Search by specialty or US state and earn AMA PRA Category 1 CME Credit™ from articles, audio, Clinical Challenges and more. Learn more about CME/MOC

Related Articles

  1. Hospital-Wide SARS-CoV-2 Antibody Screening of Staff in a Tertiary Center in Belgium
    1.00 CME

  2. SARS-CoV-2–Specific Antibodies in Breast Milk After COVID-19 Vaccination of Breastfeeding Women
    1.00 CME

  3. Antibody Response to 2-Dose SARS-CoV-2 mRNA Vaccine Series in Solid Organ Transplant Recipients
    1.00 CME

  4. Antibody Response to COVID-19 Vaccination in Adults With Hematologic Malignant Disease
    1.00 CME

See More

CME Disclosure Statement: Unless noted, all individuals in control of content reported no relevant financial relationships. If applicable, all relevant financial relationships have been mitigated.

See More About

Vaccination Public Health Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Article Information

Corresponding Author: Deborah Steensels, PharmD, PhD, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Ziekenhuis Oost-Limburg, Schiepse Bos 6, 3600 Genk, Belgium (Deborah.steensels@zol.be).

Accepted for Publication: August 19, 2021.

Published Online: August 30, 2021. doi:10.1001/jama.2021.15125

Author Contributions: Drs Steensels and Heylen had full access to all the data in the study and take responsibility for the integrity of the data and the accuracy of the data analysis.

Concept and design: Steensels, Penders, Mesotten, Heylen.

Acquisition, analysis, or interpretation of data: Steensels, Pierlet, Penders, Heylen.

Drafting of the manuscript: Steensels, Heylen.

Critical revision of the manuscript for important intellectual content: Pierlet, Penders, Mesotten, Heylen.

Statistical analysis: Steensels, Pierlet, Heylen.

Obtained funding: Steensels, Penders, Mesotten.

Administrative, technical, or material support: Steensels, Penders, Mesotten.

Supervision: Steensels, Penders.

Conflict of Interest Disclosures: None reported.

Funding/Support: Roche Diagnostics International Ltd provided test reagents and Interreg Euregio Meuse-Rhine provided financial support (grant EMR-187 CODAP).

Role of the Funder/Sponsor: Funders were not involved in the design and conduct of the study; collection, management, analysis, and interpretation of the data; preparation, review, or approval of the manuscript; or the decision to submit the manuscript for publication.

Additional Contributions: We thank Maarten Coemans, MSc, PhD (Leuven Biostatistics Centre, KU Leuven), for his statistical advice. He was not compensated for his contribution.

References
1.
Baden  LR , El Sahly  HM , Essink  B ,  et al; COVE Study Group.  Efficacy and safety of the mRNA-1273 SARS-CoV-2 vaccine.   N Engl J Med. 2021;384(5):403-416. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa2035389PubMedGoogle ScholarCrossref
2.
Polack  FP , Thomas  SJ , Kitchin  N ,  et al; C4591001 Clinical Trial Group.  Safety and efficacy of the BNT162b2 mRNA Covid-19 vaccine.   N Engl J Med. 2020;383(27):2603-2615. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa2034577PubMedGoogle ScholarCrossref
3.
Voysey  M , Costa Clemens  SA , Madhi  SA ,  et al; Oxford COVID Vaccine Trial Group.  Single-dose administration and the influence of the timing of the booster dose on immunogenicity and efficacy of ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 (AZD1222) vaccine: a pooled analysis of four randomised trials.   Lancet. 2021;397(10277):881-891. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(21)00432-3PubMedGoogle ScholarCrossref
4.
Khoury  DS , Cromer  D , Reynaldi  A ,  et al.  Neutralizing antibody levels are highly predictive of immune protection from symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection.   Nat Med. 2021;27(7):1205-1211. doi:10.1038/s41591-021-01377-8PubMedGoogle ScholarCrossref
5.
Rubio-Acero  R , Castelletti  N , Fingerle  V ,  et al; KoCo19 study team.  In search of the SARS-CoV-2 protection correlate: head-to-head comparison of two quantitative S1 assays in pre-characterized oligo-/asymptomatic patients.   Infect Dis Ther. 2021;10(3):1505-1518. doi:10.1007/s40121-021-00475-xPubMedGoogle ScholarCrossref
6.
Levine-Tiefenbrun  M , Yelin  I , Katz  R ,  et al.  Initial report of decreased SARS-CoV-2 viral load after inoculation with the BNT162b2 vaccine.   Nat Med. 2021;27(5):790-792. doi:10.1038/s41591-021-01316-7PubMedGoogle ScholarCrossref
If you are not a JN Learning subscriber, you can either:
Subscribe to JN Learning for one year
Buy this activity
jn-learning_Modal_Multimedia_LoginSubscribe_Purchase
Close
If you are not a JN Learning subscriber, you can either:
Subscribe to JN Learning for one year
Buy this activity
jn-learning_Modal_Multimedia_LoginSubscribe_Purchase
Close
With a personal account, you can:
  • Access free activities and track your credits
  • Personalize content alerts
  • Customize your interests
  • Fully personalize your learning experience
Education Center Collection Sign In Modal Right
Close

Name Your Search

Save Search
Privacy Policy|Terms of Use
Close
With a personal account, you can:
  • Track your credits
  • Personalize content alerts
  • Customize your interests
  • Fully personalize your learning experience
jn-learning_Modal_SaveSearch_NoAccess_Purchase
Close

Lookup An Activity

or

Close

My Saved Searches

You currently have no searches saved.

Close

My Saved Courses

You currently have no courses saved.

Close
With a personal account, you can:
  • Access free activities and track your credits
  • Personalize content alerts
  • Customize your interests
  • Fully personalize your learning experience
Education Center Collection Sign In Modal Right
Close
Our website uses cookies to enhance your experience. By continuing to use our site, or clicking "Continue," you are agreeing to our Cookie Policy | Continue