Differential T-cell and antibody responses induced by mRNA versus adenoviral vectored COVID-19 vaccines in patients with immunodeficiencies

BACKGROUND: Immunodeficient patients (IDPs) are at higher risk of contracting severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Targeted vaccination strategies have been implemented to enhance vaccine-induced protection. In this population, however, clinical effectiveness is variable and the duration of protection unknown. OBJECTIVE: We sought to better understand the cellular and humoral immune responses to mRNA and adenoviral vectored COVID-19 vaccines in patients with immunodeficiency. METHODS: Immune responses to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 spike were assessed after 2 doses of homologous ChAdOx1-nCoV-19 or BNT162b2 vaccines in 112 infection-naive IDPs and 131 healthy health care workers as controls. Predictors of vaccine responsiveness were investigated. RESULTS: Immune responses to vaccination were low, and virus neutralization by antibody was not detected despite high titer binding responses in many IDPs. In those exhibiting response, the frequency of specific T-cell responses in IDPs was similar to controls, while antibody responses were lower. Sustained vaccine specific differences were identified: T-cell responses were greater in ChAdOx1-nCoV-19– compared to BNT162b2-immunized IDPs, and antibody binding and neutralization were greater in all cohorts immunized with BNT162b2. The positive correlation between T-cell and antibody responses was weak and increased with subsequent vaccination. CONCLUSION: Immunodeficient patients have impaired immune responses to mRNA and viral vector COVID-19 vaccines that appear to be influenced by vaccine formulation. Understanding the relative roles of T-cell– and antibody-mediated protection as well as the potential of heterologous prime and boost immunization protocols is needed to optimize the vaccination approach in these high-risk groups.