Vaccination Against SARS-CoV-2 Is Associated With a Lower Viral Load and Likelihood of Systemic Symptoms

Carolyn T. Bramante; Jennifer L. Proper; David R. Boulware; Amy B. Karger; Thomas Murray; Via Rao; Aubrey Hagen; Christopher J. Tignanelli; Michael Puskarich; Ken Cohen; David M. Liebovitz; Nichole R. Klatt; Courtney Broedlow; Katrina M. Hartman; Jacinda Nicklas; Sherehan Ibrahim; Adnin Zaman; Hanna Saveraid; Hrishikesh Belani; Nicholas Ingraham; Grace Christensen; Lianne Siegel; Nancy E. Sherwood; Regina Fricton; Sam Lee; David J. Odde; John B. Buse; Jared D. Huling

doi:10.1093/ofid/ofac066

Vaccination Against SARS-CoV-2 Is Associated With a Lower Viral Load and Likelihood of Systemic Symptoms

Carolyn T. Bramante, Jennifer L. Proper, David R. Boulware, Amy B. Karger, Thomas Murray, Via Rao, Aubrey Hagen, Christopher J. Tignanelli, Michael Puskarich, Ken Cohen, David M. Liebovitz, Nichole R. Klatt, Courtney Broedlow, Katrina M. Hartman, Jacinda Nicklas, Sherehan Ibrahim, Adnin Zaman, Hanna Saveraid, Hrishikesh Belani, Nicholas IngrahamGrace Christensen, Lianne Siegel, Nancy E. Sherwood, Regina Fricton, Sam Lee, David J. Odde, John B. Buse, Jared D. Huling

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Abstract

Background: Data conflict on whether vaccination decreases severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) viral load. The objective of this analysis was to compare baseline viral load and symptoms between vaccinated and unvaccinated adults enrolled in a randomized trial of outpatient coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) treatment. Methods: Baseline data from the first 433 sequential participants enrolling into the COVID-OUT trial were analyzed. Adults aged 30-85 with a body mass index (BMI) ≥25 kg/m2 were eligible within 3 days of a positive SARS-CoV-2 test and <7 days of symptoms. Log10 polymerase chain reaction viral loads were normalized to human RNase P by vaccination status, by time from vaccination, and by symptoms. Results: Two hundred seventy-four participants with known vaccination status contributed optional nasal swabs for viral load measurement: median age, 46 years; median (interquartile range) BMI 31.2 (27.4-36.4) kg/m2. Overall, 159 (58%) were women, and 217 (80%) were White. The mean relative log10 viral load for those vaccinated <6 months from the date of enrollment was 0.11 (95% CI, -0.48 to 0.71), which was significantly lower than the unvaccinated group (P = .01). Those vaccinated ≥6 months before enrollment did not differ from the unvaccinated with respect to viral load (mean, 0.99; 95% CI, -0.41 to 2.40; P = .85). The vaccinated group had fewer moderate/severe symptoms of subjective fever, chills, myalgias, nausea, and diarrhea (all P < .05). Conclusions: These data suggest that vaccination within 6 months of infection is associated with a lower viral load, and vaccination was associated with a lower likelihood of having systemic symptoms.

Original language	English (US)
Article number	ofac066
Journal	Open Forum Infectious Diseases
Volume	9
Issue number	5
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1093/ofid/ofac066
State	Published - May 1 2022

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
Financial support. The clinical trial is funded by The Rainwater Charitable Foundation, The Parsemus Foundation, Fast Grants, and UnitedHealth Group Research and Development. The trial receives support from the UMN Clinical and Translational Science Institute, UL1TR002494. Dr. Bramante was funded by the National Institutes of Health's National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, grants KL2TR002492 and UL1TR002494; and the National Institute of Digestive Diabetes and Kidney Diseases, grant K23DK124654-01A1.

Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 The Author(s) 2022. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Infectious Diseases Society of America.

Keywords

SARS-CoV-2
symptoms
vaccines
viral load

PubMed: MeSH publication types

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UN SDGs

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Bramante, C. T., Proper, J. L., Boulware, D. R., Karger, A. B., Murray, T., Rao, V., Hagen, A., Tignanelli, C. J., Puskarich, M., Cohen, K., Liebovitz, D. M., Klatt, N. R., Broedlow, C., Hartman, K. M., Nicklas, J., Ibrahim, S., Zaman, A., Saveraid, H., Belani, H., ... Huling, J. D. (2022). Vaccination Against SARS-CoV-2 Is Associated With a Lower Viral Load and Likelihood of Systemic Symptoms. Open Forum Infectious Diseases, 9(5), Article ofac066. https://doi.org/10.1093/ofid/ofac066

Bramante, CT, Proper, JL, Boulware, DR , Karger, AB , Murray, T, Rao, V, Hagen, A, Tignanelli, CJ , Puskarich, M, Cohen, K, Liebovitz, DM, Klatt, NR, Broedlow, C, Hartman, KM, Nicklas, J, Ibrahim, S, Zaman, A, Saveraid, H, Belani, H, Ingraham, N, Christensen, G, Siegel, L, Sherwood, NE, Fricton, R, Lee, S, Odde, DJ, Buse, JB & Huling, JD 2022, 'Vaccination Against SARS-CoV-2 Is Associated With a Lower Viral Load and Likelihood of Systemic Symptoms', Open Forum Infectious Diseases, vol. 9, no. 5, ofac066. https://doi.org/10.1093/ofid/ofac066

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abstract = "Background: Data conflict on whether vaccination decreases severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) viral load. The objective of this analysis was to compare baseline viral load and symptoms between vaccinated and unvaccinated adults enrolled in a randomized trial of outpatient coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) treatment. Methods: Baseline data from the first 433 sequential participants enrolling into the COVID-OUT trial were analyzed. Adults aged 30-85 with a body mass index (BMI) ≥25 kg/m2 were eligible within 3 days of a positive SARS-CoV-2 test and <7 days of symptoms. Log10 polymerase chain reaction viral loads were normalized to human RNase P by vaccination status, by time from vaccination, and by symptoms. Results: Two hundred seventy-four participants with known vaccination status contributed optional nasal swabs for viral load measurement: median age, 46 years; median (interquartile range) BMI 31.2 (27.4-36.4) kg/m2. Overall, 159 (58%) were women, and 217 (80%) were White. The mean relative log10 viral load for those vaccinated <6 months from the date of enrollment was 0.11 (95% CI, -0.48 to 0.71), which was significantly lower than the unvaccinated group (P = .01). Those vaccinated ≥6 months before enrollment did not differ from the unvaccinated with respect to viral load (mean, 0.99; 95% CI, -0.41 to 2.40; P = .85). The vaccinated group had fewer moderate/severe symptoms of subjective fever, chills, myalgias, nausea, and diarrhea (all P < .05). Conclusions: These data suggest that vaccination within 6 months of infection is associated with a lower viral load, and vaccination was associated with a lower likelihood of having systemic symptoms.",

keywords = "SARS-CoV-2, symptoms, vaccines, viral load",

author = "Bramante, {Carolyn T.} and Proper, {Jennifer L.} and Boulware, {David R.} and Karger, {Amy B.} and Thomas Murray and Via Rao and Aubrey Hagen and Tignanelli, {Christopher J.} and Michael Puskarich and Ken Cohen and Liebovitz, {David M.} and Klatt, {Nichole R.} and Courtney Broedlow and Hartman, {Katrina M.} and Jacinda Nicklas and Sherehan Ibrahim and Adnin Zaman and Hanna Saveraid and Hrishikesh Belani and Nicholas Ingraham and Grace Christensen and Lianne Siegel and Sherwood, {Nancy E.} and Regina Fricton and Sam Lee and Odde, {David J.} and Buse, {John B.} and Huling, {Jared D.}",

note = "Funding Information: Financial support. The clinical trial is funded by The Rainwater Charitable Foundation, The Parsemus Foundation, Fast Grants, and UnitedHealth Group Research and Development. The trial receives support from the UMN Clinical and Translational Science Institute, UL1TR002494. Dr. Bramante was funded by the National Institutes of Health's National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, grants KL2TR002492 and UL1TR002494; and the National Institute of Digestive Diabetes and Kidney Diseases, grant K23DK124654-01A1. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2022 The Author(s) 2022. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Infectious Diseases Society of America.",

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AU - Bramante, Carolyn T.

AU - Proper, Jennifer L.

AU - Boulware, David R.

AU - Karger, Amy B.

AU - Murray, Thomas

AU - Rao, Via

AU - Hagen, Aubrey

AU - Tignanelli, Christopher J.

AU - Puskarich, Michael

AU - Cohen, Ken

AU - Liebovitz, David M.

AU - Klatt, Nichole R.

AU - Broedlow, Courtney

AU - Hartman, Katrina M.

AU - Nicklas, Jacinda

AU - Ibrahim, Sherehan

AU - Zaman, Adnin

AU - Saveraid, Hanna

AU - Belani, Hrishikesh

AU - Ingraham, Nicholas

AU - Christensen, Grace

AU - Siegel, Lianne

AU - Sherwood, Nancy E.

AU - Fricton, Regina

AU - Lee, Sam

AU - Odde, David J.

AU - Buse, John B.

AU - Huling, Jared D.

N1 - Funding Information: Financial support. The clinical trial is funded by The Rainwater Charitable Foundation, The Parsemus Foundation, Fast Grants, and UnitedHealth Group Research and Development. The trial receives support from the UMN Clinical and Translational Science Institute, UL1TR002494. Dr. Bramante was funded by the National Institutes of Health's National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, grants KL2TR002492 and UL1TR002494; and the National Institute of Digestive Diabetes and Kidney Diseases, grant K23DK124654-01A1. Publisher Copyright: © 2022 The Author(s) 2022. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Infectious Diseases Society of America.

PY - 2022/5/1

Y1 - 2022/5/1

N2 - Background: Data conflict on whether vaccination decreases severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) viral load. The objective of this analysis was to compare baseline viral load and symptoms between vaccinated and unvaccinated adults enrolled in a randomized trial of outpatient coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) treatment. Methods: Baseline data from the first 433 sequential participants enrolling into the COVID-OUT trial were analyzed. Adults aged 30-85 with a body mass index (BMI) ≥25 kg/m2 were eligible within 3 days of a positive SARS-CoV-2 test and <7 days of symptoms. Log10 polymerase chain reaction viral loads were normalized to human RNase P by vaccination status, by time from vaccination, and by symptoms. Results: Two hundred seventy-four participants with known vaccination status contributed optional nasal swabs for viral load measurement: median age, 46 years; median (interquartile range) BMI 31.2 (27.4-36.4) kg/m2. Overall, 159 (58%) were women, and 217 (80%) were White. The mean relative log10 viral load for those vaccinated <6 months from the date of enrollment was 0.11 (95% CI, -0.48 to 0.71), which was significantly lower than the unvaccinated group (P = .01). Those vaccinated ≥6 months before enrollment did not differ from the unvaccinated with respect to viral load (mean, 0.99; 95% CI, -0.41 to 2.40; P = .85). The vaccinated group had fewer moderate/severe symptoms of subjective fever, chills, myalgias, nausea, and diarrhea (all P < .05). Conclusions: These data suggest that vaccination within 6 months of infection is associated with a lower viral load, and vaccination was associated with a lower likelihood of having systemic symptoms.

AB - Background: Data conflict on whether vaccination decreases severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) viral load. The objective of this analysis was to compare baseline viral load and symptoms between vaccinated and unvaccinated adults enrolled in a randomized trial of outpatient coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) treatment. Methods: Baseline data from the first 433 sequential participants enrolling into the COVID-OUT trial were analyzed. Adults aged 30-85 with a body mass index (BMI) ≥25 kg/m2 were eligible within 3 days of a positive SARS-CoV-2 test and <7 days of symptoms. Log10 polymerase chain reaction viral loads were normalized to human RNase P by vaccination status, by time from vaccination, and by symptoms. Results: Two hundred seventy-four participants with known vaccination status contributed optional nasal swabs for viral load measurement: median age, 46 years; median (interquartile range) BMI 31.2 (27.4-36.4) kg/m2. Overall, 159 (58%) were women, and 217 (80%) were White. The mean relative log10 viral load for those vaccinated <6 months from the date of enrollment was 0.11 (95% CI, -0.48 to 0.71), which was significantly lower than the unvaccinated group (P = .01). Those vaccinated ≥6 months before enrollment did not differ from the unvaccinated with respect to viral load (mean, 0.99; 95% CI, -0.41 to 2.40; P = .85). The vaccinated group had fewer moderate/severe symptoms of subjective fever, chills, myalgias, nausea, and diarrhea (all P < .05). Conclusions: These data suggest that vaccination within 6 months of infection is associated with a lower viral load, and vaccination was associated with a lower likelihood of having systemic symptoms.

KW - SARS-CoV-2

KW - symptoms

KW - vaccines

KW - viral load

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ER -

Vaccination Against SARS-CoV-2 Is Associated With a Lower Viral Load and Likelihood of Systemic Symptoms

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

PubMed: MeSH publication types

UN SDGs

Access

OpenUrl availability

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