February 2, 2021

expert reaction to two preprints looking at the B1.1.7 variant and the Pfizer BioNTech vaccine

Two preprints, unpublished non-peer reviewed studies, look at the Pfizer/BioNTech Vaccine, the B.1.1.7 variant, and the E484K mutation.

Dr Jonathan Stoye, Group Leader, Retrovirus-Host Interactions Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, said:

“The preprint from Collier et al on vaccine elicited neutralizing antibodies adds further support to a number of recent studies showing that SARS-CoV-2 is evolving to develop at least partial resistance to current vaccines.  It confirms that the E484K mutation has arisen independently at different times and seems to be spreading at least in some places.  What remains unclear is the nature of the selective forces driving the spread of antibody resistant viruses.  The second report, on age related heterogenicity of immune responses to vaccine, suggests that some elderly individuals make relatively low immune responses to a single dose of vaccine.  This raises the possibility that, in some individuals, vaccine elicited immune responses may be too low to completely block virus replication but high enough to drive selection of resistant viruses: in other words that sub-optimal levels of antibody are driving virus evolution.  This idea, if confirmed by subsequent studies, will be important in the development of vaccine delivery strategies regarding the timing of booster vaccine doses.  Further, the appearance of partially resistant viruses emphasizes the need for on-going monitoring of SARS-CoV-2 variants and the need to prepare for delivering altered vaccines tailored to the newly appearing variants.”   

Prof Azra Ghani, Chair in Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Imperial College London, said:

“Although preliminary and small numbers, this research is important to improving our understanding of the vaccine responses in the most vulnerable age-groups. With the South African variant now in the UK, it will be important to ensure that the most vulnerable groups are fully protected by the second dose. Given the high coverage of first doses that has now been achieved in the first four priority groups coupled with the very strong age-gradient in risk, this would be a good point at which to switch to scheduling second doses alongside continuing the wider roll-out of first doses to the next priority groups. ”

Preprint (not a published paper): ‘SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.7 escape from mRNA vaccine-elicited neutralizing antibodies’ by Collier et al.

Preprint (not a published paper): ‘Age-related heterogeneity in immune responses to SARS-CoV-2 following BNT162b2’ by Collier et al

Declared interests

None received.