Assessment of Antibody levels amongst Health Care Workers vaccinated with two doses of COVID vaccine 6 months ago in a Hospital of Kolkata, West Bengal: Is there any Need for a Third dose (Booster Dose) of COVID Vaccine?

Abstract

Background: Vaccines can prevent the adverse effects, even if the virus is contracted. The first group to receive the doses included the healthcare workers. While data shows that two vaccine shots are largely effective at protecting against severe Covid-19, data on the benefit of booster shots is currently unclear. To establish whether a booster dose would offer significantly increased protection, experts first need to understand the level of antibodies and other immune defences needed to prevent severe illness and death from Covid-19. Objectives: To conduct a study to see the clinical exposure profile of the doctors who had taken both doses of vaccines 6 months and before from COVID vaccination centre of BelleVue Clinic, Kolkata and to analyse the antibody levels of the doctors who had been vaccinated with two doses of vaccine 6 months ago and before. Methodology: An observational, descriptive, cross-sectional, hospital based study was conducted in the Bellevue Clinic of Kolkata, West Bengal in the span of 6 months from September 2021 to January 2022 taking the health care workers of the clinic as participants. The persons were called for an antibody testing on prefixed scheduled dates. The persons who gave consent were provided with pre-designed validated questionnaire. A total of 130 health care workers including doctors, nurses, housekeeping and administrators gave consent to participate. Blood was collected from them and antibody test was conducted by COVID specific antibody testing kits (Product V 74339 - Access S variants ARS CoV -2 IgG (1st IS) Reagent Kit (200 tests/kit). Results: The study was carried out the Pathology department of Bellevue Clinic, Kolkata. The data was analyzed and results showed 80% of the persons whose titre came below the cutoff mark were males. The health care workers belonging to age group 40-60 years were the maximum having lower antibody titres followed by those above 60 years of age. Doctors were the persons who were mostly having lower levels of antibody titres followed by nurses. This may be due to the maximum exposure to the Covid patients that their antibody titre weaned off early. This shows that those who had direct exposure to patients had much higher antibody titres. Conclusion: The study opened up a wide angle to the antibody levels of the covid vaccinated health care workers. The results will help the future researchers to develop different means for a Covid free or a normal healthy life based on this data.