IgG titers Decline Post-Vaccination with BNT6112b2 in an Italian Dental Team

Author(s): Livia Barenghi, Francesco Romano, Garagiola Umberto, Francesco Spadari

The occupational risk of dental health care workers for COVID-19 is a burning issue. Currently, the long-lasting efficacy of the induced immunity from SARS-CoV-2 vaccination is largely unknown. Our aim is to study the RDB-IgG response after 1, 4, and 7 months from complete vaccination with BNT6112b2 in an Italian dental team. All 13 dental health care workers (3 men and 10 women) working in a private dental office were enrolled in the frame of scheduled controls for occupational safety. All dental health care workers were aged less than 60 yrs old; the mean age (±DS) was 41.23±9.63 yrs; 2/13 had one medical condition associated with a higher risk of developing severe illness from COVID-19, but none of DHCW were affected with the disease. Antigen tests on nasal swab in detecting the SARSCoV-2 were always negative from December 2020 to September 2021. Any symptoms commonly attributed to COVID-19 were not reported. The vaccination with BNT6112b2 was done on them with two doses according to the authorization protocol. Some female dental health workers (4/13) seem to be non-responders or slightly responders and reported associated pathologies (obesity, hypertension). 7 months after the second dose of vaccine, the RDB-IgG antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 have reduced significantly (94%; P < 0.001) compared to levels 1 month after. More knowledge on occupational risk and on vaccine efficacy in dental health care workers, stringent adoption of standard precautions, and, perhaps, the vaccine boost or new mucosal vaccines seem to be the main strategy in facing COVID-19 pandemic.