Article in Japanese

COVID-19 vaccination for individuals with severe motor and intellectual disabilities: antibody titers and adverse events

Yuki GUNJI^{1, 3）}, Yukihiko FUJITA^1）, Takumi MITUHASHI^1）, Tatuya KUBO^1）, Atushi NISHIMURA^1）, Narumi MICHIHIRO^1）, Hiroaki SHIIHARA^4）, Yuuko SEKINE^2）, Misako WATANABE^2）, Yukari TANAKA^1,3）, Ichiro MORIOKA^3）

Individuals with severe physical and intellectual disabilities are eligible for the recommended SARS-CoV-2 infection (COVID-19) vaccine. It has been reported that SARS-CoV-2-specific antibody titers were increased and maintained over time after the third dose of COVID-19 vaccine. However, there have been few reports of antibody titers after COVID-19 vaccination in individuals with severe physical and intellectual disabilities. This study examined SARS-CoV-2-specific IgG antibody titers and adverse reactions after COVID-19 vaccination in 142 individuals, who were admitted to our hospital with severe physical and intellectual disabilities. The mean antibody titer was 2,863 ± 3,219 AU/mL (mean ± standard deviation) 2 months after the second vaccination, and 22,623 ± 17,301 AU/mL 2 months after the third one, which was significantly ～8 times higher (p＜0.05) than that 2 months after the second dose. Antibody titers after vaccination did not differ between individuals with severe motor and intellectual disabilities and healthy controlled persons. Adverse events were more frequent after the second vaccination (7.7％/37.3％) than after the first one. Few adverse reactions were observed other than fever and local reactions. In this study, the third vaccination increased IgG antibody titers more significantly than the second one, and the ability of antibody production after vaccination was similar between individuals with severe motor and intellectual disabilities and able-bodied persons. It is therefore necessary to verify the duration of antibody titers after the third vaccination, and the ability to prevent infection.

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1）Department of Pediatrics, Ashikaganomori Ashikaga Hospital
2）Department of Nursing, Ashikaganomori Ashikaga Hospital
3）Department of Pediatrics, Nihon University Itabashi Hospital
4）Tokyo Metropolitan Tobu Medical Center

Key words	individuals with severe physical and intellectual disabilities, SARS-CoV-2 infection (COVID-19), antibody titers, vaccine, adverse events
Received	May 26, 2023
Accepted	August 26, 2023

35 (4)：343─350,2023