Long-lasting cross-reactive and polyfunctional SARS-CoV-2 T cell responses in seniors are maintained after repeated vaccination and infections
The quality and quantity of spike-specific T cell responses were maintained over several years and three doses of the original B.1 vaccine generated good T cell cross-reactivity against future strains. This suggests that overall, healthy older adults have robust cellular protection against severe COVID-19. NAbs were more strain-specific with reduced neutralisation of newer variants, consistent with immune imprinting and antigenic drift, suggesting that updated vaccines may be necessary for vulnerable individuals.
Authors
- Anna Hayman Robertson (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6295-0528)
- Elisabeth Lea Vikse
- Lill Trogstad (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9557-5725)
- Per Magnus (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6427-4735)
- Siri Mjaaland (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3870-5861)
- Even Fossum (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7064-0327)
- Ingrid Fadum Kjønstad (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5306-3492)
- F. Lund-Johansen
- Guri Solum (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5269-5727)
- Sabin Bhandari
- Unni C. Nygaard
- Asia-Sophia Wolf
Institutions
- Oslo University Hospital (NO)
- Norwegian Institute of Public Health (NO)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Vaccine
- Published
- 2026-03-26
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vaccine.2026.128511
- Primary Topic
- SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 Research
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00