mRNA-1273 Vaccine-elicited Neutralization of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron in Adolescents and Children

BackgroundThe highly transmissible severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) Omicron variant is a global concern. This study assessed the neutralization activity of two-dose regimens of mRNA-1273 vaccination against Omicron in adults, adolescents and children. MethodsNeutralizing activity against the Omicron variant was evaluated in serum samples from adults ([≥]18 years) in the phase 3, Coronavirus Efficacy (COVE) and from adolescents (12-17 years) in the TeenCOVE trials following a two-dose regimen of 100 {micro}g mRNA-1273 and from children (6-<12 years) in the KidCOVE trial administered two doses of 50 {micro}g mRNA-1273. Neutralizing antibody geometric mean ID50 titers (GMT) were measured using a lentivirus-based pseudovirus neutralizing assay at day 1 and 4 weeks (day 57) following the second mRNA-1273 dose, compared with wild-type (D614G). ResultsAt 4 weeks following a second dose of mRNA-1273 (100 {micro}g), the GMT was reduced 28.8-fold compared with D614G in adults ([≥]18 years). In adolescents (12-17 years), the GMT was 11.8-fold lower than D614G, 4 weeks after a second dose of mRNA-1273 (100 {micro}g), and compared with adults, were 1.5- and 3.8-fold higher for D614G and the Omicron variant, respectively. In children (6-<12 years), 4 weeks post-second dose of 50 {micro}g mRNA-1273, Omicron GMTs were reduced 22.1-fold versus D614G and were 2.0-fold higher for D614G and 2.5-fold higher for Omicron compared with adults. ConclusionsA two-dose regimen of 100 {micro}g mRNA-1273 in adolescents and of 50 {micro}g in children elicited neutralization responses against the Omicron variant that were reduced compared with the wild-type D614G, and numerically higher than those in adults.

Initial Analysis of Viral Dynamics and Circulating Viral Variants During the mRNA-1273 Phase 3 COVE Trial

This analysis assessed the impact of mRNA-1273 vaccination on the viral dynamics of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection in the ongoing Coronavirus Efficacy (COVE) trial. mRNA-1273 vaccination significantly reduced SARS-CoV-2 viral copy number (95% confidence interval [CI]) by 100-fold on the day of diagnosis (4.1 [3.4-4.8] versus placebo (6.2 [6.0-6.4] log10 copies/ml). Median times to undetectable viral copies were 4 days for mRNA-1273 and 7 for placebo. Vaccination also reduced the burden of disease and infection scores. Vaccine efficacies (95% CI) during the trial against SARS-CoV-2 variants circulating in the US were 82.4% (40.4%-94.8%) for Epsilon and Gamma, and 81.2% (36.1%-94.5%) for the Epsilon variants. The detection of other respiratory viruses during the trial was similar between groups. In those who became SARS-CoV-2 infected, the reduction of viral load after mRNA-1273 vaccination is potentially correlated to the risk of transmission, which has not been assessed in this study.