Key result
The 100μg mRNA-1273 vaccine elicits stronger IgG-dominant and omicron-specific immunity in children versus adults.
Why the study?
Whether children respond equivalently to adults to mRNA vaccines and whether pediatric dosing elicits optimal immunity remained unclear.
Does the mRNA-1273 vaccine elicit robust humoral immunity in 6-11 year old children compared to adults and naturally infected children?
Observational (n=52)
Open-label
No
Does the mRNA-1273 vaccine elicit robust humoral immunity in 6-11 year old children compared to adults and naturally infected children?
Both 50μg and 100μg doses of mRNA-1273 in children elicit robust cross-variant antibody responses, with the 100μg dose resulting in highly preserved omicron-specific functional humoral immunity.
Supports 100μg mRNA-1273 immunogenicity in children 6-11 years; leaves open durability and clinical protection versus adults.
While children have been largely spared from COVID-19 disease, the emergence of viral variants of concern (VOC) with increased transmissibility, combined with fluctuating mask mandates and school re-openings have led to increased infections and disease among children. Thus, there is an urgent need to roll out COVID-19 vaccines to children of all ages. However, whether children respond equivalently to adults to mRNA vaccines and whether dosing will elicit optimal immunity remains unclear. Given the recent announcement of incomplete immunity induced by the pediatric dose of the BNT162b2 vaccine in young children, here we aimed to deeply profile and compare the vaccine-induced humoral immune response in 6-11 year old children receiving the pediatric (50μg) or adult (100μg) dose of the mRNA-1273 vaccine compared to adults and naturally infected children or children that experienced multi inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) for the first time. Children elicited an IgG dominant vaccine induced immune response, surpassing adults at a matched 100μg dose, but more variable immunity at a 50μg dose. Irrespective of titer, children generated antibodies with enhanced Fc-receptor binding capacity. Moreover, like adults, children generated cross-VOC humoral immunity, marked by a decline of omicron receptor binding domain-binding, but robustly preserved omicron Spike-receptor binding, with robustly preserved Fc-receptor binding capabilities, in a dose dependent manner. These data indicate that while both 50μg and 100μg of mRNA vaccination in children elicits robust cross-VOC antibody responses, 100ug of mRNA in children results in highly preserved omicron-specific functional humoral immunity.
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Bartsch et al. (2021) conducted an observational in SARS-CoV-2 Vaccination (n=52). mRNA-1273 vs. Adults receiving 100μg mRNA-1273 and naturally infected children was evaluated on Seroconversion (increase in Spike-specific IgM, IgA1 or IgG1 binding). Children aged 6-11 years receiving 100μg of the mRNA-1273 vaccine elicited robust, IgG-dominant immune responses with enhanced Fc-receptor binding and highly preserved omicron-specific functional immunity compared to adults.
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