Five-year immunogenicity and safety follow-up of the PREVAC randomized Trial of Vaccines for Zaire Ebola Virus Disease.

BACKGROUND

The World Health Organization has expanded its recommendations for prophylactic Ebola vaccination for at-risk populations. Durable vaccine-induced immunity is important for sustaining outbreak preparedness in regions with recurrent Ebola virus disease (EVD). We assessed five-year persistence of vaccine-induced immune responses in adults and children from the PREVAC trial.

METHODS

Two large randomised phase 2 trials (NCT02876328), in adults and children aged ≥ 1 year, were conducted in four west African countries. Participants were randomly assigned to placebo or to one of three Ebola vaccine strategies: Ad26.ZEBOV followed by MVA-BN-Filo at 56 days; rVSVΔG-ZEBOV-GP followed by placebo; or rVSVΔG-ZEBOV-GP followed by a homologous booster dose at 56 days. After 12 months of follow-up, the primary results were published, participants unblinded to their vaccine assignment, and follow-up continued for 60 months. After Month 24, placebo group recipients were offered active vaccination. Anti-Ebola virus glycoprotein Immunoglobulin G (IgG) concentrations were measured for 5 years.

FINDINGS: 1401 adults and 1401 children were initially randomized, and 1315 (93.9%) adults and 1322 (94.4%) children attended at least one long-term visit. Retention was high, with 95% followed beyond 1 year and 83% completion at 5-year follow-up. For the three vaccine strategies, antibody geometric mean concentrations (GMC) declined modestly between Months 12 and 24, followed by a stable plateau from Months 24 to 60. At Month 60, antibody GMC were higher in the rVSV-based groups (1099 and 1216 EU/ml for adults; 1982 and 2347 EU/ml for children) than in the Ad26.ZEBOV, MVA-BN-Filo group (252 adults and 645 EUml children). Antibody persistence at Month 60 was heterogeneous, varying by age, sex, country, and baseline IgG concentration.

INTERPRETATION: Licensed Ebola vaccines induced sustained antibody responses in adults and children for up to 5 years. While the protective antibody level is unknown, these data demonstrate long-lasting immune responses from currently employed vaccine strategies.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBERS: ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT02876328; EudraCT number 2017-001798-18; and Pan African Clinical Trials Registry number, PACTR201712002760250.