Humoral and Cellular Immunogenicity of Zoster Vaccine within One Year after Herpes Zoster

BACKGROUND: Herpes zoster vaccination is recommended to patients with a prior history of herpes zoster to prevent reactivation. However, the appropriate timing of vaccination is controversial. We compared immunogenicity of vaccine according to timing of vaccination after zoster illness. METHODS: In this prospective observational study, subjects were stratified into two groups by the vaccination timing since their zoster illness: 6–12 months (within-1 year group) vs. 1–5 years (after-1 year group). Blood samples were collected before and 6 weeks after vaccination of zoster vaccine live. Varicella-zoster virus (VZV)-specific IgG concentrations were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Interferon-gamma enzyme-linked immunosorbent spot (ELISPOT) assays were performed to assess VZV specific T-cell responses. RESULTS: A total of 59 patients (18 in the within-1 year group and 41 in the after-1 year group) were enrolled. Ages were not significantly different between groups. The baseline geometric mean titer (GMT) of VZV IgG was higher in the within-1 year group than in the after-1 year group (245.8 IU/mL vs. 124.9 IU/mL; P = 0.040). The geometric mean fold-rise (GMFR) of VZV IgG was lower in the within-1 year group than in the after-1 year group (1.42 vs. 2.46; P = 0.002). The GMT of spot forming cell (SFC) counts by ELISPOT at baseline and 6 weeks after vaccination were not significantly different between groups. The GMFRs of SFCs were also comparable. CONCLUSION: Zoster vaccination within 1 year after zoster illness may have disadvantage in the aspect of humoral immune response (ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT02704572). DISCLOSURES: All authors: No reported disclosures.