SARS-Cov-2 vaccination strategies in hospitalized recovered COVID-19 patients: a randomized clinical trial (VATICO Trial)

Sofía Sábato; Susana Benet; Angela J. Rogers; Thomas A. Murray; Melissa Skeans; Beatriz Mothe; Roger Paredes; Ahmad Mourad; Francis Kiweewa; Dena Kamel; Mamta K. Jain; Joseph Lutaakome; Mary Grace Nalubega; Nicholus Sebudde; Eleftherios Mylonakis; Dominique L. Braun; Timothy Hatlen; Ivan Kimuli; Cissy Kitko; Henry Mugerwa; Jonathan Kitonsa; Kami Kim; Phyllis C. Tien; Jeroen Highbarger; Ashley L. McCormack; Adriana Sanchez; Daniel D. Murray; Abdel G. Babiker; Victoria J. Davey; D. Clark Files; Annetine C. Gelijns; Elizabeth S. Higgs; Virginia L. Kan; Gail V. Matthews; Sarah L. Pett; H. Clifford Lane; Cavan Reilly; Anna L. Goodman; Jens D. Lundgren; José Moltó; He Ping Yeo; Shaiu Hui Diong; Sean W.X. Ong; Po Ying Chia; Barnaby E. Young; Blessing Uche; Godwin Idoko; Zaiyad Habib; Vivian Kwaghe; Nnakelu Eriobu; the ACTIV-3/VATICO study group and the STRIVE Network

doi:10.1038/s41598-025-92742-x

SARS-Cov-2 vaccination strategies in hospitalized recovered COVID-19 patients: a randomized clinical trial (VATICO Trial)

Sofía Sábato, Susana Benet, Angela J. Rogers, Thomas A. Murray, Melissa Skeans, Beatriz Mothe, Roger Paredes, Ahmad Mourad, Francis Kiweewa, Dena Kamel, Mamta K. Jain, Joseph Lutaakome, Mary Grace Nalubega, Nicholus Sebudde, Eleftherios Mylonakis, Dominique L. Braun, Timothy Hatlen, Ivan Kimuli, Cissy Kitko, Henry MugerwaJonathan Kitonsa, Kami Kim, Phyllis C. Tien, Jeroen Highbarger, Ashley L. McCormack, Adriana Sanchez, Daniel D. Murray, Abdel G. Babiker, Victoria J. Davey, D. Clark Files, Annetine C. Gelijns, Elizabeth S. Higgs, Virginia L. Kan, Gail V. Matthews, Sarah L. Pett, H. Clifford Lane, Cavan Reilly, Anna L. Goodman, Jens D. Lundgren, José Moltó, He Ping Yeo, Shaiu Hui Diong, Sean W.X. Ong, Po Ying Chia, Barnaby E. Young, Blessing Uche, Godwin Idoko, Zaiyad Habib, Vivian Kwaghe, Nnakelu Eriobu, the ACTIV-3/VATICO study group and the STRIVE Network

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Abstract

The impact on immunogenicity and efficacy of SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in people with prior COVID-19 could differ depending on timing of vaccination and number of doses. The VATICO study randomized 66 hospitalized recovered COVID-19 individuals to receive either immediate or deferred vaccination, with one or two doses of mRNA SARS-CoV-2 vaccines. We measured binding and neutralizing antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 at enrollment and longitudinally. Median (IQR) time from SARS-CoV-2 infection to first vaccination was 68 (53–75) days in the immediate group, and 151 (137–173) days in the deferred group. At week 48, timing or number of vaccine doses did not influence the change in antibody levels relative to baseline. Adherence to the assigned vaccine regimen was lower in the deferred group, particularly in participants receiving two doses. Although the study ultimately lacked adequate power to draw firm conclusions, these results suggest possible benefits of prompt vaccination after recovery from COVID-19.

Original language	English (US)
Article number	9882
Pages (from-to)	9882
Journal	Scientific Reports
Volume	15
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-92742-x
State	Published - Dec 2025

Keywords

Antibodies, Viral/blood
Humans
Middle Aged
Male
Hospitalization
Antibodies, Neutralizing/blood
Vaccination/methods
SARS-CoV-2/immunology
COVID-19/prevention & control
Female
Adult
Aged
COVID-19 Vaccines/administration & dosage

ASJC Scopus subject areas

General

Divisions

Infectious Disease

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10.1038/s41598-025-92742-x

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Sábato, S., Benet, S., Rogers, A. J., Murray, T. A., Skeans, M., Mothe, B., Paredes, R., Mourad, A., Kiweewa, F., Kamel, D., Jain, M. K., Lutaakome, J., Nalubega, M. G., Sebudde, N., Mylonakis, E., Braun, D. L., Hatlen, T., Kimuli, I., Kitko, C., ... the ACTIV-3/VATICO study group and the STRIVE Network (2025). SARS-Cov-2 vaccination strategies in hospitalized recovered COVID-19 patients: a randomized clinical trial (VATICO Trial). Scientific Reports, 15(1), 9882. Article 9882. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-92742-x

Sábato, S, Benet, S, Rogers, AJ, Murray, TA, Skeans, M, Mothe, B, Paredes, R, Mourad, A, Kiweewa, F, Kamel, D, Jain, MK, Lutaakome, J, Nalubega, MG, Sebudde, N, Mylonakis, E, Braun, DL, Hatlen, T, Kimuli, I, Kitko, C, Mugerwa, H, Kitonsa, J, Kim, K, Tien, PC, Highbarger, J, McCormack, AL, Sanchez, A, Murray, DD, Babiker, AG, Davey, VJ, Files, DC, Gelijns, AC, Higgs, ES, Kan, VL, Matthews, GV, Pett, SL, Lane, HC, Reilly, C, Goodman, AL, Lundgren, JD, Moltó, J, Yeo, HP, Diong, SH, Ong, SWX, Chia, PY, Young, BE, Uche, B, Idoko, G, Habib, Z, Kwaghe, V, Eriobu, N & the ACTIV-3/VATICO study group and the STRIVE Network 2025, 'SARS-Cov-2 vaccination strategies in hospitalized recovered COVID-19 patients: a randomized clinical trial (VATICO Trial)', Scientific Reports, vol. 15, no. 1, 9882, pp. 9882. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-92742-x

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title = "SARS-Cov-2 vaccination strategies in hospitalized recovered COVID-19 patients: a randomized clinical trial (VATICO Trial)",

abstract = "The impact on immunogenicity and efficacy of SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in people with prior COVID-19 could differ depending on timing of vaccination and number of doses. The VATICO study randomized 66 hospitalized recovered COVID-19 individuals to receive either immediate or deferred vaccination, with one or two doses of mRNA SARS-CoV-2 vaccines. We measured binding and neutralizing antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 at enrollment and longitudinally. Median (IQR) time from SARS-CoV-2 infection to first vaccination was 68 (53–75) days in the immediate group, and 151 (137–173) days in the deferred group. At week 48, timing or number of vaccine doses did not influence the change in antibody levels relative to baseline. Adherence to the assigned vaccine regimen was lower in the deferred group, particularly in participants receiving two doses. Although the study ultimately lacked adequate power to draw firm conclusions, these results suggest possible benefits of prompt vaccination after recovery from COVID-19.",

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author = "Sof{\'i}a S{\'a}bato and Susana Benet and Rogers, \{Angela J.\} and Murray, \{Thomas A.\} and Melissa Skeans and Beatriz Mothe and Roger Paredes and Ahmad Mourad and Francis Kiweewa and Dena Kamel and Jain, \{Mamta K.\} and Joseph Lutaakome and Nalubega, \{Mary Grace\} and Nicholus Sebudde and Eleftherios Mylonakis and Braun, \{Dominique L.\} and Timothy Hatlen and Ivan Kimuli and Cissy Kitko and Henry Mugerwa and Jonathan Kitonsa and Kami Kim and Tien, \{Phyllis C.\} and Jeroen Highbarger and McCormack, \{Ashley L.\} and Adriana Sanchez and Murray, \{Daniel D.\} and Babiker, \{Abdel G.\} and Davey, \{Victoria J.\} and Files, \{D. Clark\} and Gelijns, \{Annetine C.\} and Higgs, \{Elizabeth S.\} and Kan, \{Virginia L.\} and Matthews, \{Gail V.\} and Pett, \{Sarah L.\} and Lane, \{H. Clifford\} and Cavan Reilly and Goodman, \{Anna L.\} and Lundgren, \{Jens D.\} and Jos{\'e} Molt{\'o} and Yeo, \{He Ping\} and Diong, \{Shaiu Hui\} and Ong, \{Sean W.X.\} and Chia, \{Po Ying\} and Young, \{Barnaby E.\} and Blessing Uche and Godwin Idoko and Zaiyad Habib and Vivian Kwaghe and Nnakelu Eriobu and \{the ACTIV-3/VATICO study group and the STRIVE Network\}",

note = "{\textcopyright} 2025. The Author(s).",

year = "2025",

month = dec,

doi = "10.1038/s41598-025-92742-x",

language = "English (US)",

volume = "15",

pages = "9882",

journal = "Scientific Reports",

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T1 - SARS-Cov-2 vaccination strategies in hospitalized recovered COVID-19 patients

T2 - a randomized clinical trial (VATICO Trial)

AU - Sábato, Sofía

AU - Benet, Susana

AU - Rogers, Angela J.

AU - Murray, Thomas A.

AU - Skeans, Melissa

AU - Mothe, Beatriz

AU - Paredes, Roger

AU - Mourad, Ahmad

AU - Kiweewa, Francis

AU - Kamel, Dena

AU - Jain, Mamta K.

AU - Lutaakome, Joseph

AU - Nalubega, Mary Grace

AU - Sebudde, Nicholus

AU - Mylonakis, Eleftherios

AU - Braun, Dominique L.

AU - Hatlen, Timothy

AU - Kimuli, Ivan

AU - Kitko, Cissy

AU - Mugerwa, Henry

AU - Kitonsa, Jonathan

AU - Kim, Kami

AU - Tien, Phyllis C.

AU - Highbarger, Jeroen

AU - McCormack, Ashley L.

AU - Sanchez, Adriana

AU - Murray, Daniel D.

AU - Babiker, Abdel G.

AU - Davey, Victoria J.

AU - Files, D. Clark

AU - Gelijns, Annetine C.

AU - Higgs, Elizabeth S.

AU - Kan, Virginia L.

AU - Matthews, Gail V.

AU - Pett, Sarah L.

AU - Lane, H. Clifford

AU - Reilly, Cavan

AU - Goodman, Anna L.

AU - Lundgren, Jens D.

AU - Moltó, José

AU - Yeo, He Ping

AU - Diong, Shaiu Hui

AU - Ong, Sean W.X.

AU - Chia, Po Ying

AU - Young, Barnaby E.

AU - Uche, Blessing

AU - Idoko, Godwin

AU - Habib, Zaiyad

AU - Kwaghe, Vivian

AU - Eriobu, Nnakelu

AU - the ACTIV-3/VATICO study group and the STRIVE Network

PY - 2025/12

Y1 - 2025/12

N2 - The impact on immunogenicity and efficacy of SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in people with prior COVID-19 could differ depending on timing of vaccination and number of doses. The VATICO study randomized 66 hospitalized recovered COVID-19 individuals to receive either immediate or deferred vaccination, with one or two doses of mRNA SARS-CoV-2 vaccines. We measured binding and neutralizing antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 at enrollment and longitudinally. Median (IQR) time from SARS-CoV-2 infection to first vaccination was 68 (53–75) days in the immediate group, and 151 (137–173) days in the deferred group. At week 48, timing or number of vaccine doses did not influence the change in antibody levels relative to baseline. Adherence to the assigned vaccine regimen was lower in the deferred group, particularly in participants receiving two doses. Although the study ultimately lacked adequate power to draw firm conclusions, these results suggest possible benefits of prompt vaccination after recovery from COVID-19.

AB - The impact on immunogenicity and efficacy of SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in people with prior COVID-19 could differ depending on timing of vaccination and number of doses. The VATICO study randomized 66 hospitalized recovered COVID-19 individuals to receive either immediate or deferred vaccination, with one or two doses of mRNA SARS-CoV-2 vaccines. We measured binding and neutralizing antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 at enrollment and longitudinally. Median (IQR) time from SARS-CoV-2 infection to first vaccination was 68 (53–75) days in the immediate group, and 151 (137–173) days in the deferred group. At week 48, timing or number of vaccine doses did not influence the change in antibody levels relative to baseline. Adherence to the assigned vaccine regimen was lower in the deferred group, particularly in participants receiving two doses. Although the study ultimately lacked adequate power to draw firm conclusions, these results suggest possible benefits of prompt vaccination after recovery from COVID-19.

KW - Antibodies, Viral/blood

KW - Humans

KW - Middle Aged

KW - Male

KW - Hospitalization

KW - Antibodies, Neutralizing/blood

KW - Vaccination/methods

KW - SARS-CoV-2/immunology

KW - COVID-19/prevention & control

KW - Female

KW - Adult

KW - Aged

KW - COVID-19 Vaccines/administration & dosage

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U2 - 10.1038/s41598-025-92742-x

DO - 10.1038/s41598-025-92742-x

M3 - Article

C2 - 40118946

AN - SCOPUS:105001881926

SN - 2045-2322

VL - 15

SP - 9882

JO - Scientific Reports

JF - Scientific Reports

IS - 1

M1 - 9882

ER -

SARS-Cov-2 vaccination strategies in hospitalized recovered COVID-19 patients: a randomized clinical trial (VATICO Trial)

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Divisions

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