Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 in Mexican Health Care Workers after Two Years of the Pandemic: The Picture of an Ophthalmic Medical Centre

ABSTRACT

Objective

In this study, we investigated the impact of the SARS-CoV-2 vaccination on seroprevalence in a cohort of healthcare workers (HCW) at an ophthalmic medical center.

Methods

IgG antibodies against the N, S1, and S2 antigens of SARS-CoV-2 as well as their serum neutralizing activity were determined.

Results

In the present study, we observed that 98.4% of HCW were seropositive for S1/S2 proteins of SARS-CoV-2 due to the national vaccination program. Interestingly, 78.4% of the participants had anti-N protein antibodies, suggesting previous COVID-19 infection. We also evaluated the neutralizing antibodies and found that the mean value was high (90.7%).

Conclusion

These results indicate that our HCWs cohort presented a robust hybrid humoral response owing to the massive national vaccination program and natural infections.

KEYWORDS:

• Seroprevalence
• COVID-19
• SARS-CoV-2
• ELISA
• health care workers
• vaccines

Acknowledgments

Financial support: J.H. received a grant support from the Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología (CONACyT; 314320).

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Author contributions

Conceptualization: Y.G.B. and J.H.; formal analysis, V.A.V.G., F.S.M.G., B.B.V., I.I.C., P.J.S.C., J.E.A.F., V.A.V.G.; resources, Y.G.B., J.H., J.E.M.M, and V.M.H.; data curation, Y.G.B., A.G.S.L., J.E.M.M.; writing—original draft preparation, Y.G.B.; writing—review and editing, Y.G.B., A.G.S.L., J.E.M.M., V.M.H, and J.H.; funding acquisition, Y.G.B., and J.H. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

Financial support

CONACYT project number 314320 and DGAPA-PAPIIT project number IN203821.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología [319469]; Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología [314320]; Direcci?n General de Asuntos del Personal Acad?mico, Universidad Nacional Aut?noma de M?xico [IN203821].