Assessment of post-vaccination collective immunity against new coronavirus infection (COVID-19) among servicemen of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation

• Published in: Bulletin of the Russian Military Medical Academy Vol. 24; no. 2; pp. 267 - 276
• Main Authors: Azarov, Igor I., Ovchinnikov, Dmitrii V., Kuzin, Alexander A., Lantsov, Evgeniy V., Bulankov, Yuriy I., Artebyakin, Sergey V., Zharkov, Denis A., Kulikov, Pavel V.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 13.07.2022
• ISSN: 1682-7392; 2687-1424
• DOI: 10.17816/brmma106245

The recent vaccination campaign targeting the new coronavirus infection (COVID-19) carried out in the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, on the background of the current unstable global pandemic situation, makes it necessary to study post-vaccination population immunity to the SARS-CoV-2 virus and thus identify key features of immunity in organized military collectives. In the future, this will make it possible to objectively assess the risks of a worsening pandemic situation, effectively adjust the ongoing sanitary and anti-epidemic measures aimed at preserving and strengthening the health of military personnel, as one of the main conditions for maintaining the combat readiness of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation. During a study conducted on epidemic indications, it was found that vaccination with Gam-Covid-Vac contributes to the formation of collective immunity with 95% effectiveness. A gender-based analysis of the immune response showed that the proportion of persons who lack class G immunoglobulins to SARS-CoV-2 among females is twice than that among men (9.3% and 4.7%, respectively). Seroprevalence indicators, classified by blood group, range from 94.4% (AB (IV) Rh) to 97.4% (A (II) Rh). There were no significant differences in seroprevalence between groups of people with different blood groups; however, the highest value of seroprevalence was seen among military personnel with blood group A (II) Rh. In this context, it is advisable to continue monitoring the formation of immunity in individuals with various blood groups. The results obtained made it possible to form a primary medical and social portrait of a serviceman with the most adequate immune response to the introduction of the Gam-Covid-Vac vaccine (a man under the age of 20 with blood type A (II) Rh) and to draw a conclusion about the high effectiveness of vaccination in military units (formations) staffed by conscripts and military educational organizations.