Enhanced BNT162b2 vaccine-induced cellular immunity in anti-CD19 CAR T cell-treated patients.

Patients receiving CD19 CAR T-cell therapy for relapsed/refractory lymphoma experience prolonged and profound B-cell aplasia and hypogammaglobulinemia, placing them at a higher risk for severe COVID-19. Independently, Oh et al and Atanackovic et al demonstrate that despite attenuated humoral response to mRNA-based vaccines, patients demonstrate normal or heightened functional T-cell responses, including antiviral T-cell activity against SARS-CoV-2 variants including Omicron. Collectively, these data reinforce the importance of COVID-19 vaccination following CD19 CAR T-cell therapy, despite long-term B-cell aplasia.