Impact of COVID-19 vaccination on public compliance with epidemiological measures and rules of public prevention

Abstract

Studies of the evolutionary strains of coronavirus allow us to conclude that each new variant is more contagious. Maximum effectiveness in reducing morbidity and breaking the chain of infections can be achieved by implementing the entire complex of epidemiological measures that do not exclude, but complement each other: vaccination in combination with all epidemiological measures. The aim is to identify and evaluate the expected impact of vaccination against COVID-19 on the population»s compliance with epidemiological requirements of public health and personal protection measures in preventing the spread of this disease. In the period from November 2021 to February 2022, an indirect continuous sociological survey was conducted. 373 people took part in the study, the age category is over 18 years old, the region of residence is Moscow and the Moscow region. The program processing of the received data was carried out. Vaccination has caused an increase in the number of people who neglect the established rules of prevention. This trend has affected all types of protective measures and all age groups. This is due to the confidence of the population that vaccination is the most effective and reliable way to prevent the disease. A significant part of respondents believe that vaccinated people are not sources of infection and cannot infect others. In the future, there is an increase in the proportion of vaccinated citizens who resume the use of additional protective measures. The main motive of such dynamics is social responsibility for the health of others. The underestimation by the population of the need for a comprehensive application of epidemiological measures, especially after the course of vaccination, was revealed. In order to achieve maximum effectiveness of the COVID-19 prevention program, it is not enough just to have high social responsibility of citizens for their health and the health of others. It is necessary to reliably, timely and accessible continue to improve the information literacy of the population about the new disease, while covering all age categories.