Antibody response to different COVID-19 vaccines among the migrant workers of Bangladesh

Md Imam Hossain; Protim Sarker; Rubhana Raqib; Md Ziaur Rahman; Rezaul Hasan; Chloe K Svezia; Mahbubur Rahman; Nuhu Amin

doi:10.3389/fimmu.2023.1128330

Antibody response to different COVID-19 vaccines among the migrant workers of Bangladesh

Front Immunol. 2023 Mar 9:14:1128330. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1128330. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Md Imam Hossain¹, Protim Sarker¹, Rubhana Raqib¹, Md Ziaur Rahman¹, Rezaul Hasan¹, Chloe K Svezia², Mahbubur Rahman¹, Nuhu Amin^{1

3}

Affiliations

¹ Infectious Diseases Division, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
² Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States.
³ Institute for Sustainable Futures, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW, Australia.

Abstract

Background: Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, various host countries such as Singapore, imposed entry requirements for migrant workers including pre-departure COVID-19 seroconversion proof. To combat COVID-19 worldwide, several vaccines have acquired conditional approval. This study sought to assess antibody levels after immunization with different COVID-19 vaccines among the migrant workers of Bangladesh.

Methods: Venous blood samples were collected from migrant workers who were vaccinated with different COVID-19 vaccines (n=675). Antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 spike protein (S) and nucleocapsid protein (N) were determined using Roche Elecsys^® Anti-SARS-CoV-2 S and N immunoassay, respectively.

Results: All participants receiving COVID-19 vaccines showed antibodies to S-protein, while 91.36% were positive for N-specific antibodies. The highest anti-S antibody titers were found among the workers who completed booster doses (13327 U/mL), received mRNA vaccines Moderna/Spikevax (9459 U/mL) or Pfizer-BioNTech/Comirnaty (9181 U/mL), and reported SARS-CoV-2 infection in the last six months (8849 U/mL). The median anti-S antibody titers in the first month since the last vaccination was 8184 U/mL, which declined to 5094 U/mL at the end of six months. A strong correlation of anti-S antibodies was found with past SARS-CoV-2 infection (p < 0.001) and the type of vaccines received (p <0.001) in the workers.Conclusion: Bangladeshi migrant workers receiving booster doses of vaccine, vaccinated with mRNA vaccines, and having past SARS-CoV-2 infection, mounted higher antibody responses. However, antibody levels waned with time. These findings suggest a need for further booster doses, preferably with mRNA vaccines for migrant workers before reaching host countries.

Keywords: Bangladeshi migrant workers; SARS-CoV-2; anti-spike-antibody; booster dose; mRNA vaccines; seroconversion.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Antibodies
Antibody Formation
Bangladesh / epidemiology
Blood Group Antigens*
COVID-19 Vaccines
COVID-19* / epidemiology
COVID-19* / prevention & control
Humans
Pandemics
SARS-CoV-2
Transients and Migrants*

Substances

COVID-19 Vaccines
spike protein, SARS-CoV-2
Antibodies
Blood Group Antigens

Grants and funding

We sincerely thank the International SOS, Singapore, and Oasis Group, Dhaka, Bangladesh for the funding support and collaboration to conduct the study. icddr,b is also grateful to the governments of Bangladesh, Canada, Sweden, and the United Kingdom for providing core/unrestricted support.