1. to May & June 2021. Prior infection with SARS-CoV-2 was determined at baseline. Serum samples were used to estimate SARS-CoV-2 nucleoprotein-specific IgG [IgG (N)], spike protein-specific IgG [IgG (S)] and neutralizing antibodies (NAb). Results: Participants with previous SARS-CoV-2 infection after a single vaccine dose elicited IgG (N) and IgG (S) antibody levels along with NAb binding inhibition responses levels were similar to infection-na?ve vaccinated participants who had taken two doses of vaccine. Interpretation & conclusions: Our preliminary data suggested that a single dose of BBV152-induced humoral immunity in previously infected individuals was equivalent to two doses of the vaccine in infection-na?ve individuals. However, these findings need to be confirmed with large sized cohort studies. Keywords: BBV152, COVID-19 vaccine, IgG, neutralizing antibody, SARS-CoV-2 The vaccine BBV152 is a whole-virionCinactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccine adjuvanted with Algel-IMDG [an imidazoquinoline molecule chemisorbed on alum (Algel)]1. Algel-IMDG is a Toll-like receptor 7/8 agonist2,3. BBV152 has been shown to elicit good humoral and cell-mediated immune responses, with an acceptable safety profile in both Phase 1 and Phase II studies4. BBV152 is one of the first vaccines approved for clinical use in India. The shortages in COVID-19 vaccine manufacturing and supply have led experts to recommend the use of a single dose of COVID vaccines in SARS-CoV-2Crecovered individuals so that na?ve individuals with no prior ARP 101 SARS-CoV-2 infection can be prioritized to complete the two doses5. Various recent studies have shown that individuals who recovered from COVID-19 exhibit protective memory responses in both humoral and cell-mediated arms that last ARP 101 for at least 6-8 months6,7,8. Others reported increased antibody titres and neutralization activity after the first dose of SARS-CoV-2 mRNA (Pfizer and Moderna) vaccines in COVID-19Crecovered individuals9,10. Similarly, a single dose of ChAdOx1/AZD1222 vaccine has been shown to elicit increased neutralizing antibody (NAb) and protective immunity in SARS-CoV-2 infection-recovered individuals in comparison to those with no prior exposure11. On this basis, it has been suggested that shifting the present vaccine recommendation to offer only a single dose of vaccine to COVID-19Crecovered individuals would free up many immediately needed vaccine doses. However, whether ARP 101 such immune response holds good for BBV152 vaccine, is not known. Therefore, this study was undertaken to examine SARS-CoV-2Cspecific antibody responses after day 0 (baseline, before vaccination), day 282 post-first dose (month 1) and day 562 post-first dose (month 2) of BBV152 in a group of healthcare professionals as well as frontline workers, and the antibody responses of individuals with confirmed pre-vaccination SARS-CoV-2 infection were compared with those individuals without prior evidence of infection. Material & Methods Study population: The blood specimens were collected from healthcare professionals (individuals working TMUB2 in the research institutes and hospitals) and frontline workers who received BBV152 vaccine [manufactured by Bharat Biotech, Hyderabad, in collaboration with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), India] at vaccination centres in Chennai, India, during February to May & June 2021. The collected blood samples were transported on the same day to the Immunology laboratory of ICMR, National Institute for Research in Tuberculosis (NIRT), Chennai, India, in a temperature maintained ice-cool box following which samples were centrifuged and serum samples were stored in ?80C freezers. All participants were more than 18 yr of age and from both genders. Blood samples were collected before receiving the first dose of BBV152. Prior infection with SARS-CoV-2 was determined by SARS-CoV-2 IgG positivity at baseline. The demographics of the study population are shown in the Table, and the outline of participant categorization is shown in Fig. 1. The study was approved by the Ethics Committee of ICMR-NIRT (NIRTINo: 2021007). Informed written consent was received from all study individuals. Table Demographic and clinical characteristics of the study participants
Total number of participants1143084Age in yr, median (range)35 (23-60)39 (23-58)34 (23-60)Gender (male/female)70/4418/1252/32Temperature (F), median96.797.396.7Contact with COVID-19 case (%)12 (10.5)8 (26.6)4 (4.7)TuberculosisNilNilNilDiabetes mellitus (%)15 (13.1)6 (20)9 (10.7)Hypertension (%)15 (13.1)5 (16.6)10 (11.9)BCG scar.