Neutralising capacity against Delta (B.1.617.2) and other variants of concern following Comirnaty (BNT162b2, BioNTech/Pfizer) vaccination in health care workers, Israel

Euro Surveill. 2021 Jul;26(26):2100557. doi: 10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2021.26.26.2100557.

Abstract

SARS-CoV-2 Delta (B.1.617.2) variant of concern (VOC) and other VOCs are spreading in Europe. Micro-neutralisation assays with sera obtained after Comirnaty (BNT162b2, BioNTech/Pfizer) vaccination in 36 healthcare workers (31 female) demonstrated significant fold change reduction in neutralising titres compared with the original virus: Gamma (P.1) 2.3, Beta (B.1.351) 10.4, Delta 2.1 and 2.6. The reduction of the Alpha (B.1.1.7) variant was not significant. Despite being lower, remaining neutralisation capacity conferred by Comirnaty against Delta and other VOCs is probably protective.

Keywords: B.1.617.2 (Delta); BNT162b2 vaccination; COVID-19; neutralizing; variants.

MeSH terms

  • BNT162 Vaccine
  • COVID-19 Vaccines
  • COVID-19*
  • Europe
  • Female
  • Health Personnel
  • Humans
  • Israel
  • SARS-CoV-2*
  • Vaccination

Substances

  • COVID-19 Vaccines
  • BNT162 Vaccine