SARS-CoV-2 vaccine(The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey)

Although age-related immune deterioration has been implicated as a mechanistic contributor to cardiovascular disease (CVD), evidence for an impairment of adaptive immune function in individuals with clinically verified presence of atherosclerosis is lacking.

To test the association between atherosclerosis and immune function, we evaluated SARS-CoV-2 vaccine responsiveness in 65- to 71-year-old individuals (n = 644) derived from a population-based cohort, characterized for subclinical atherosclerosis by coronary computed tomography angiography and carotid ultrasound. Vaccine-specific T cells were quantified by activation-induced marker assays and antibody responses by ELISA. We did not find any significant associations between the degree of subclinical atherosclerosis or history of cardiovascular disease and vaccine-specific IgG or T cells. Vaccine immunity was not associated with lipid levels but was inversely correlated with several plasma cytokines.

Our study demonstrates that subclinical atherosclerosis or prevalent CVD is not associated with impaired responsiveness to vaccination.

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) outbreak in 2020 led to the immediate development of vaccines to combat SARS-CoV-2 infections and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). First-generation (2020-2021) COVID-19 vaccines demonstrated high immunogenicity and efficacy, successfully reducing hospitalization, disease severity and COVID-19 related deaths. However, the initial clinical trials for these vaccines focused on overall healthy individuals, and generally excluded high risk populations, such as people with cancer. The SARS-CoV-2 VaccinE Response, Immunological eFfects and safetY in patients with Cancer (VERIFY-C) study formed a unique cohort in early 2021, to capture the initial immune response to BNT162b2 mRNA (Pfizer) vaccination in people with cancer, with or without ongoing/recent exposure to systemic cancer treatment. Fifty-three participants diagnosed with cancer were enrolled. Majority were non-Hispanic, Caucasian females. Patients under cancer treatment had significantly lower antibody responses than those without treatment at pre-second dose and 1-month post-second dose. The levels at 6-months post-second dose were similar between both groups. Patients under treatment had a significantly lower immune response 1-month post-second dose, with an increased immune response at 6-months post-second dose, suggesting a delayed immune response. Further investigations are needed to understand antibody functionality post-vaccination in these individuals.