Neutralizing Antibody Responses Among Residents and Staff of Long-Term Care Facilities in the State of New Jersey During the First Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic

Expanding a previous study of the immune response to SARS-CoV-2 in 10 New Jersey long-term care facilities (LTCFs) during the first wave of the pandemic, this study characterized the neutralizing antibody (NAb) response to infection and vaccination among residents and staff. Sera from the original study were tested using the semi-quantitative enzyme-linked immunosorbent cPass neutralization-antibody detection assay. Almost all residents (97.8%) and staff (98.1%) who were positive for IgG S antibody to the spike protein were positive for NAb. In non-vaccinated subjects with a history of infection (positive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) or antigen test), the distribution of mean intervals from infection to serology date was not significantly different for S antibody positives versus negatives. More than 80% of both were positive at 10 months. Similarly, the mean NAb titer for residents and staff was not associated with interval from PCR/antigen positive to serology date, F = 0.1.01, Pr > F = 0.4269 and F = 0.77, Pr > F = 0.6548 respectively. Titers remained high as the interval reached 10 months. In vaccinees who had no history of infection, the NAb titer was near the test maximum when the serum was drawn seven or more days after the second vaccine dose. In staff the mean NAb titer increased significantly as the vaccine number increased from one to two doses, F = 11.69, Pr > F < 0.0001. NAb titers to SARS-CoV-2 in residents and staff of LTCFs were consistently high 10 months after infection and after two doses of vaccine. Ongoing study is needed to determine whether this antibody provides protection as the virus continues to mutate.