ABSTRACT
Relevance. During a pandemic, the epidemiological well-being of the population of the whole world depends on the vaccination of each individual person, as cells of the immune layer. Only reliable and open information about adverse events after the use of vaccines, obtained in a timely manner in the process of continuous monitoring, can support the confidence and adherence of the population to vaccination. Aim. To assess the monitoring system for AEFI (Adverse Events Following Immunization) in the Russian Federation and other countries. Materials and methods. A descriptive epidemiological study was conducted with a review of regulatory and methodological documents, forms of federal statistical observation, information from the AIS «DRAID» (Analytical Information System «Department of registration and accounting of infectious diseases» program in Moscow, acts of investigation of post-vaccination complications, which were carried out by specialists from the branches of the Center for Hygiene and Epidemiology in Moscow, sources: eLIBRARU.ru, cyberleninka.ru, information from WHO’s websites, Internet resources for monitoring AEFIs in different countries and websites of manufacturers of COVID-19 vaccines, instructions for vaccines. Conclusion. Thus, it is almost impossible for an epidemiologist working in one of the departments that participates in the monitoring of AEFIs to conduct a full-fledged prospective and retrospective epidemiological analysis and draw unambiguous conclusions about the AEFIs based only on data from open sources and forms of state statistical observation. There is a need for interaction and exchange of information between the subjects of monitoring. © 2022, Numikom. All rights reserved.
ABSTRACT
Background. The incidence of COVID-19 novel coronavirus infection has a wave-like pattern with surges in new cases followed by declines. Viral mutations, changes in viral properties, and new strains continue to emerge and are regularly reported. The aim of the study is to present a comparative analysis of clinical and epidemiological characteristics of hospitalized patients with COVID-19 during different periods of the coronavirus infection pandemic in Moscow. Materials and methods. A two-center, retrospective observational epidemiological study was performed using medical records of patients hospitalized with the confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19 in Moscow from March 2020 to March 2022 (34,354 patients). Results. Within 2 years of the pandemic, there were significant differences in the age structure of hospitalized patients. During the early months (March–June 2020) of the pandemic, age groups of 18–45 and 46–65 year-olds accounted for higher percentages of hospitalizations. Later on (July 2020 – February 2021), the proportion of older age groups demonstrated an upward trend. From spring 2021 (the emergence of the SARS-CoV-2 delta strain) to March 2022 (dominance of the omicron strain), the proportion of hospitalized working-age adults increased once again. The proportion of severe and critically severe cases among the patients hospitalized during different periods remained at steady levels: 7.7% (6.6–8.8%) and 5.5% (4.4–6.6%), respectively. The highest death rates were observed during the delta strain surge, while the lowest death rates were reported for the omicron strain. Throughout the pandemic, the older age and chronic diseases remained risk factors contributing to the severity of the disease and adverse outcomes. Conclusion. The emergence of new variants of SARS-CoV-2 causing a shift of the need for hospitalization towards younger age groups, the persistent high rates of severe cases and death rates among people of retirement age are pressing for the unfailing readiness for implementing preventive and epidemic control measures focusing on the above groups of population. © 2022, Central Research Institute for Epidemiology. All rights reserved.
ABSTRACT
The article is dedicated to the 90th anniversary of the Department of Epidemiology and Evidence-based Medicine of the of F.F. Erisman Public Health Institute of the Sechenov University. The main milestones of the Department development are described. It is shown that throughout its history, the Department played a leading role in defining the methodology of teaching epidemiology, and the formation of epidemiology as a science, its structure, and content. In recent years the work of the Department has undergone several major transformations aimed at introducing new technologies and the latest advances in the teaching of epidemiology into the educational process. Today, the Department staff uses the latest evidence-based data and teaches the discipline based on current standards. Training of students, specialists in residency, and scientific personnel in postgraduate study is conduct-ed following the approved working program, using state-of-the-art teaching materials and interactive technologies. The pandemic of a new coronavirus infection contributed to the rapid development of telecommunication and online education. The student research group and school of excellence «Epidemiologist of the Future» are working, and the student volunteer project «Prophylaxis Forefront» is being implemented, aimed at training specialists with current technologies of preventive medicine. The Department staff is actively involved in scientific projects of F. F. Erisman Public Health Institute. The research results are published in national and foreign publications.
ABSTRACT
Introduction. Mass vaccination of the population against SARS-CoV-2 in Russia and abroad has been going on for more than 2 years. Various types of vaccines are used for vaccination (vector vaccines, RNA vaccines, whole-virion vaccines). The first in the world was registered the Russian vector vaccine «Gam-COVID-Vac» («Sputnik V»), which is widely used in our country, as well as in many other countries of the world. An important area of research is the monitoring of the parameters of the vaccine-induced immune response their analysis in relation to the characteristics of the immune response caused by SARSCoV-2 infection/COVID-19. Such studies are important both for assessing the intensity and duration of post-vaccination immunity, and for improving strategies for immunoprophylaxis and immunotherapy of coronavirus infection. The article presents the results of a study of the humoral immune response in patients with COVID-19 and vaccinated with «Sputnik V» in the period from autumn 2020 till the present time. The aim of the work - a comparative study of the humoral immune response to SARSCoV-2 infection and vaccination against COVID-19. Material and methods. The content of antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 S- and N-proteins was studied in 449 blood serum samples of men and women (age 25-65 years). 5 groups of samples were formed: suffered from COVID-19 of mild and moderate severity, at different times after recovery (262 samples);immunized with the «Sputnik V» vaccine, at different times after injection of the 2nd component of «Sputnik V» (104 samples);suffered from COVID-19 of mild and moderate severity, and then vaccinated with «Sputnik V» (53 samples);vaccinated with «Sputnik V», and then suffered with COVID-19 (12 samples);revaccinated with the vaccine «Sputnik Light» (18 samples). Results. To assess the content of IgG antibodies to S-protein and to N-protein of SARSCoV-2 in human blood sera, an EIA diagnostic system was developed further certified by the Ministry of Health of Russian Federation. In people suffered COVID-19 in 90 % of cases the positive levels of IgG antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 S-protein persist 9 months after recovery, while the proportion of potential plasma donors and material for obtaining intravenous immunoglobulin with a high content of IgG antibodies to S-protein 1 month after the disease is 20 %. In 76 % of people vaccinated with «Sputnik V» high levels of IgG antibodies to S-protein are detected within 6 months after the course of vaccination. The content of IgG antibodies to S-protein in the blood sera of persons suffered COVID-19, and then 6 months after recovery vaccinated with the 1st component of the vaccine «Sputnik V» in 100 % of cases was high with a positivity coefficient above 8.1, regardless of the initial value, already on 7 and 21 days after injection. In persons vaccinated with «Sputnik V» and then passed COVID-19, a high content of S-specific IgG antibodies is observed in 100 % of cases. The examination of vaccinated persons who underwent revaccination with «Sputnik Light» showed a 100 % high level of antibodies against S-protein. Conclusion. The developed test system may be suitable for assessing the content of IgG antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 antigens in COVID-19 patients, vaccinated and revaccinated. The performed study demonstrated that there is a intensive post-vaccination immunity for 6 months and post-infectious immunity for 9 months.