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Waning of SARS-CoV-2 booster viral-load reduction effectiveness

Author

Listed:
  • Matan Levine-Tiefenbrun

    (Technion - Israel Institute of Technology
    Tel-Aviv University)

  • Idan Yelin

    (Technion - Israel Institute of Technology)

  • Hillel Alapi

    (Maccabitech, Maccabi Health Services)

  • Esma Herzel

    (Maccabitech, Maccabi Health Services)

  • Jacob Kuint

    (Tel-Aviv University
    Maccabitech, Maccabi Health Services)

  • Gabriel Chodick

    (Tel-Aviv University
    Maccabitech, Maccabi Health Services)

  • Sivan Gazit

    (Maccabitech, Maccabi Health Services)

  • Tal Patalon

    (Maccabitech, Maccabi Health Services)

  • Roy Kishony

    (Technion - Israel Institute of Technology
    Faculty of Computer Science, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology)

Abstract

The BNT162b2 COVID-19 vaccine has been shown to reduce viral load of breakthrough infections (BTIs), an important factor affecting infectiousness. This viral-load protective effect has been waning with time post the second vaccine and later restored with a booster shot. It is currently unclear though for how long this regained effectiveness lasts. Analyzing Ct values of SARS-CoV-2 qRT-PCR tests of over 22,000 infections during a Delta-variant-dominant period in Israel, we find that this viral-load reduction effectiveness significantly declines within months post the booster dose. Adjusting for age, sex and calendric date, Ct values of RdRp gene initially increases by 2.7 [CI: 2.3-3.0] relative to unvaccinated in the first month post the booster dose, yet then decays to a difference of 1.3 [CI: 0.7-1.9] in the second month and becomes small and insignificant in the third to fourth months. The rate and magnitude of this post-booster decline in viral-load reduction effectiveness mirror those observed post the second vaccine. These results suggest rapid waning of the booster’s effectiveness in reducing infectiousness, possibly affecting community-level spread of the virus.

Suggested Citation

  • Matan Levine-Tiefenbrun & Idan Yelin & Hillel Alapi & Esma Herzel & Jacob Kuint & Gabriel Chodick & Sivan Gazit & Tal Patalon & Roy Kishony, 2022. "Waning of SARS-CoV-2 booster viral-load reduction effectiveness," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-4, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:13:y:2022:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-022-28936-y
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-28936-y
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Barak Mizrahi & Roni Lotan & Nir Kalkstein & Asaf Peretz & Galit Perez & Amir Ben-Tov & Gabriel Chodick & Sivan Gazit & Tal Patalon, 2021. "Correlation of SARS-CoV-2-breakthrough infections to time-from-vaccine," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 1-5, December.
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    Cited by:

    1. Yonatan Woodbridge & Sharon Amit & Amit Huppert & Naama M. Kopelman, 2022. "Viral load dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 Delta and Omicron variants following multiple vaccine doses and previous infection," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-6, December.
    2. Frederik Plesner Lyngse & Kåre Mølbak & Matt Denwood & Lasse Engbo Christiansen & Camilla Holten Møller & Morten Rasmussen & Arieh Sierra Cohen & Marc Stegger & Jannik Fonager & Raphael Niklaus Sieber, 2022. "Effect of vaccination on household transmission of SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant of concern," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-8, December.
    3. Laurent Renia & Yun Shan Goh & Angeline Rouers & Nina Bert & Wan Ni Chia & Jean-Marc Chavatte & Siew‐Wai Fong & Zi Wei Chang & Nicole Ziyi Zhuo & Matthew Zirui Tay & Yi-Hao Chan & Chee Wah Tan & Nicho, 2022. "Lower vaccine-acquired immunity in the elderly population following two-dose BNT162b2 vaccination is alleviated by a third vaccine dose," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-16, December.

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