Abstract

COVID-19, caused by SARS-CoV-2, has been the subject of unprecedented research, leading to a pandemic that urgently required effective vaccines to stop its spread. Despite the effectiveness of these vaccines, SARS-CoV-2 transmission continued, prompting questions about the immune response to SARS-CoV-2. Two years after the COVAX initiative in Cote D'ivoire, a study was conducted to assess the humoral response induced by vaccination among health workers in Abidjan. This was a cross-sectional study that included 350 health workers, examining factors such as age, gender, workstation, and body mass index, history of COVID-19, existence of comorbidity, job stress and antibody titers. Anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgM and IgG titers were determined using VIDAS® SARS-CoV-2 assays, and SARS-CoV-2 anti-S1 neutralizing antibodies were measured using the Chorus SARS-CoV-2 “Neutralizing” Ab tests. The population studied had an average age of 40.65 years, with a female predominance (57.1%). About 48.0% of healthcare workers were at moderate risk of exposure to COVID-19, and a history of SARS-CoV-2 infection was found in 29.7% of workers. Overall, 91.4% showed strong serological responses. Age, history of SARS-CoV-2 infection, vaccination status, and existence of comorbidity significantly influenced antibody titers. There was no significant association between antibody titers and COVID-19 stress. In conclusion, the humoral response to the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine was robust among healthcare professionals, and a history of SARS-CoV-2 infection boosted the humoral response.

Key words: SARS-CoV-2, Anti-COVID-19 vaccination, Healthcare workers, IgM, IgG, neutralizing antibody, humoral response.