Gam-COVID-Vac, EpiVacCorona, and CoviVac effectiveness against lung injury during Delta and Omicron variant surges in St. Petersburg, Russia: a test-negative case–control study

BACKGROUND: Monitoring vaccine effectiveness (VE) remains a priority for epidemiological research throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. VE against infection declines with the emergence of new SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VOC), but VE against the severe disease remains high. Therefore, we aimed to estimate the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines used in Russia against lung injury during Delta and Omicron VOC surges. METHODS: We designed a case–control study (test-negative design) to estimate VE against any (any volume of involved lung parenchyma) and severe (>50% of involved parenchyma) lung injury detected on computer tomography and associated with COVID-19 between October 1, 2021–April 28, 2022 (Delta VOC dominance period followed by Omicron dominance period). We included the data of patients with symptomatic confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection referred to the low-dose computer tomography triage centres. RESULTS: Among 23996 patients in the primary analysis, 13372 (55.7%) had any lung injury, and 338 (1.4%) had severe lung injury. The adjusted for age, sex and triage centre VE estimates against any lung injury were 56% (95% confidence interval 54–59) for two-dose Gam-COVID-Vac (Sputnik V), 71% (68–74) for three-dose Gam-COVID-Vac (booster), 2% (−27 to 24) for EpiVacCorona, and 46% (37–53) for CoviVac. VE estimates against severe lung injury were 76% (67–82) for two-dose Gam-COVID-Vac (Sputnik V), 87% (76–93) for three-dose Gam-COVID-Vac, 36% (−63 to 75) for EpiVacCorona, and 80% (45–92) for CoviVac. CONCLUSIONS: Gam-COVID-Vac remained effective against lung injury associated with COVID-19 during Delta and Omicron VOC surges, and one Gam-COVID-Vac booster could be seen as an appropriate option after a two-dose regimen. CoviVac was also effective against lung injury. EpiVacCorona use in population-based vaccination should be halted until effectiveness and efficacy evidence is provided. Trial registration The joint study of COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness in St. Petersburg was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04981405, date of registration—August 4, 2021). SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12931-022-02206-3.