Efficacy and longevity of COVID-19 booster vaccinations in people living with COPD

Early in the COVID-19 pandemic, people living with certain chronic diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) were identified as being at higher risk of severe outcomes (hospitalisation, death). Immunisation against SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19) was effective at inducing immune responses in children, adolescents and adults and was instrumental in reducing the hospitalisation and mortality rates with COVID-19. However, epidemiological data indicate that approximately 3-6 months after primary vaccination, protection against severe disease starts to decline. For this reason, many vulnerable populations including older people and those living with COPD have been eligible for COVID-19 booster vaccinations. It remains unclear how effectively the immune system of people with COPD respond to booster vaccination, and the longevity of serological and cellular adaptive immune responses to SARS-CoV-2 variants. The aim of this research is to characterise the immune response to COVID-19 booster vaccination in people with COPD.