Yonsei Med J.  2022 Dec;63(12):1078-1087. 10.3349/ymj.2022.0298.

Reactogenicity and Immunogenicity of the ChAdOx1 nCOV-19 Coronavirus Disease 2019 Vaccine in South Korean Healthcare Workers

• Hyun J
• Park Y
• Song YG
• Han SH
• Park SY
• Kim SH
• Park JS
• Jeon SY
• Lee HS
• Lee KH

• KMID: 2536357
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3349/ymj.2022.0298

Abstract

Purpose
The association between reactogenicity and immunogenicity of the ChAdOx1 nCOV-19 is controversial. We aimed to evaluate this association among South Korean healthcare workers (HCWs).
Materials and Methods
Participants received two doses of the ChAdOx1vaccine 12 weeks apart. Blood samples were tested for anti-severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) spike protein receptor binding domain antibodies about 2 months after the first and second doses using the Elecsys Anti-SARS-CoV-2 S assay kits. Adverse events were noted using an online self-reporting questionnaire.
Results
Among the 232 HCWs, pain (85.78% after the first dose vs. 58.62% after the second dose, p<0.001) was the most prominent local reaction, and myalgia or fatigue (84.05% vs. 53.02%, p<0.001) was the most prominent systemic reaction. The frequency of all adverse events was significantly reduced after the second dose. After the first dose, the anti-SARS-CoV-2 S showed significantly higher titer in the group with swelling, itching, fever, and nausea. Also, the anti-SARS-CoV-2 S titer significantly increased as the grade of fever (p=0.007) and duration of fever (p=0.026) increased; however, there was no significant correlation between immunogenicity and adverse event after the second dose. The group with pain after the first dose showed a greater increase in the anti-SARSCoV-2 S difference between the second and first doses compared to the group without pain (542.2 U/mL vs. 363.8 U/mL, p=0.037).
Conclusion
The frequency of adverse events occurring after the first dose of the ChAdOx1 was significantly reduced after the second dose. Interestingly, the elevation of anti-SARS-CoV-2 S titer was significantly increased in the group with pain after the first dose.

Keyword

ChAdOx1 nCoV-19; immunogenicity; adverse events