Durability of SARS-CoV-2 Antibodies From Natural Infection in Children and Adolescents

AUTHORS

Messiah SE , DeSantis S , Leon-Novelo L , Talebi Y , Brito F , Kohl Iii HW , Valerio-Shewmaker M , Ross J , Swartz MD , Yaseen A , Kelder SH , Zhang S , Omega-Njemnobi OS , Gonzalez MO , Wu L , Boerwinkle E , Lakey D , Shuford JA , Pont SJ , . Pediatrics. 2022 3 18; ().

PMID: 35301530 [PubMed].

ABSTRACT

As of January 27, 2022 over 11.4 million children in the United States (US) have tested positive for COVID-19.1 COVID-19 cases among US children have seen an exponential increase in December 2021 and January 2022, a very short time period that far exceeds previous peaks of infection.1 These recent data suggest the omicron (B.1.1.529) variant is more transmissible compared to the delta (B.1.617.2) and alpha (B.1.1.7) variants.1 These data are particularly troubling as they coincide with school re-openings after the 2021-22 holiday break across the country. Information about the durability of SARS-CoV-2-specific natural immune responses in children is important to inform community-based transmission mitigation and pediatric vaccination strategies, for both current and potential future variants. However, the true incidence and longitudinal presence of natural (not-vaccine induced) antibody response to SARS-CoV-2 infection is not known in the pediatric population due to the high proportion of asymptomatic infection2 and prioritization of testing for adults and those with severe illness early in the pandemic. This is important information for the field as not all parents can or will choose to vaccinate their child.

Tags: alumni publications 2022