COVID-19 Breakthrough Infection after Inactivated Vaccine Induced Robust Antibody Responses and Cross-Neutralization of SARS-CoV-2 Variants, but Less Immunity against Omicron

The emergence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) variants and the waning of immunity in vaccinated individuals is resulting in increased numbers of SARS-CoV-2 breakthrough infections. This study investigated binding antibody responses and neutralizing activities against SARS-CoV-2 variants in patients with COVID 19 who had been fully vaccinated with CoronaVac (n = 78), individuals who had been fully vaccinated with CoronaVac but had not contracted COVID-19 (n = 170), and individuals who had received AZD1222 as a third vaccination (n = 210). Breakthrough infection was generally detected approximately 88 days after the second CoronaVac vaccination (interquartile range 68 to 100) days. Blood samples were collected at median of 34 days after infection. Binding antibody levels in sera from patients with breakthrough infection were significantly higher than those in individuals who had received AZD1222 as a third vaccination. However, neutralizing activities against wild-type and variants including alpha (B.1.1.7), beta (B.1.351), and delta (B.1.617.2) were comparable in patients with breakthrough infections and individuals who received a third vaccination with AZD1222, which activities are exceeding 90%. Omicron (B.1.1.529) was neutralized less effectively by serum from breakthrough infection patients, with a 6.3-fold reduction compared to delta variants. The study suggests that breakthrough infection after two doses of an inactivated vaccine can induce neutralizing antibody against omicron. Further investigation is needed to assess the long term persistence of antibody against omicron variant.