Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39823154›Full record

ArticleInfluenza and other respiratory viruses2025

The Second Round of a Population-Based Seroprevalence Study of Anti-SARS-CoV-2 Antibodies and COVID-19 Vaccination Assessment in the Republika Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Jela Aćimović, Biljana Mijović, Srđan Mašić, Miroslav Petković, Dragana Puhalo Sladoje, Darija Knežević, Jelena Đaković Dević, Dragan Spaić, Jelena Vladičić-Mašić, Dejan Bokonjić and 5 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Influenza and other respiratory viruses, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

15 authors.

Jela AćimovićDepartment of Epidemiology, Public Health Institute of the Republika Srpska, Banja Luka, Republika Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina.ORCID 0009-0000-0951-6108
Biljana MijovićDepartment of Primary Health Care and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of East Sarajevo, Foča, Republika Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Srđan MašićDepartment of Primary Health Care and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of East Sarajevo, Foča, Republika Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Miroslav PetkovićCentre for Biomedical Research, Faculty of Medicine, University of Banja Luka, Banja Luka, Republika Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Dragana Puhalo SladojeCentre for Biomedical Research, Faculty of Medicine, University of East Sarajevo, Foča, Republika Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Darija KneževićCentre for Biomedical Research, Faculty of Medicine, University of Banja Luka, Banja Luka, Republika Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Jelena Đaković DevićDepartment of Epidemiology, Public Health Institute of the Republika Srpska, Banja Luka, Republika Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Dragan SpaićDepartment of Primary Health Care and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of East Sarajevo, Foča, Republika Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Jelena Vladičić-MašićDepartment of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of East Sarajevo, Foča, Republika Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Dejan BokonjićDepartment of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of East Sarajevo, Foča, Republika Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Mirza PaloHealth Emergency Programme, World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Aisling VaughanHealth Emergency Programme, World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Richard PebodyHealth Emergency Programme, World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Anthony NardoneDepartment of Epidemiology, Epiconcept, Paris, France.
Ranko ŠkrbićCentre for Biomedical Research, Faculty of Medicine, University of Banja Luka, Banja Luka, Republika Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Funding

German Federal Ministry of Health COVID-19 Research and Development FundMinistry of Health and Social Welfare of the Republika Srpska, Bosnia and HerzegovinaWHO COVID-19 Solidarity Response FundWorld Health Organization 001
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionThe aim of the study was to assess the seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 in the Republika Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina, after five waves of COVID-19 and 1 year after introduction of vaccination to better understand the true extent of the COVID-19 pandemic in the population of the Republika Srpska and role of vaccination in achieving herd immunity.

methodsThe population-based study was conducted from December 2021 to February 2022 in a group of 4463 individuals in the Republika Srpska. Total anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies were determined in serum specimens using the Wantai total antibody ELISA assay. Quantitative analysis, using Kantaro IgG assays, was performed in subsamples (1273 specimens) to asses and compare levels of IgG among vaccinated, recovered and participants with hybrid immunity. To adjust for age and gender distribution in sample, poststratification method is applied.

resultsThe overall cumulative seroprevalence was 94.6% (95% CI = 93.9-95.3). Significantly higher seroprevalence rates were observed among vaccinated 97.8% (95% CI = 97.3-98.4) comparing to unvaccinated participants (89.5%, 95% CI = 88.0-91.0). Seroprevalence increases with the number of received doses. Among various professions, the highest seroprevalence was found in the service industry (98.1%), education (98.0%) and healthcare (96.9%). We found that 2.2% of vaccinated and 3.6% of participants with SARS-CoV-2 positivity during 2021 had no detectable IgG antibodies. Both seroprevalence (98.6%) and antibody titres (1094.4 AU/mL) were significantly higher among people with hybrid immunity.

conclusionOur findings reveal a 2.3-fold increase in seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies due to infection and vaccination, comparing to the first study performed 1 year earlier. This study provides better understanding of the SARS-CoV-2 transmission and highlights the important role of the vaccination in achieving the population immunity. Periodically conducted population-based seroprevalence studies are important to understand temporal trends and assess surveillance system performance and public compliance with vaccination policies.

Indexed as

Antibodies, ViralCOVID-19Seroepidemiologic StudiesAdaptive ImmunityAdolescentAdultAgedAged, 80 and overBosnia and HerzegovinaChildChild, PreschoolCOVID-19 VaccinesFemaleHumansImmunity, HerdImmunoglobulin GAntibodies, ViralCOVID-19 VaccinesImmunoglobulin GBosnia and HerzegovinaCOVID‐19population‐based studySARS‐CoV‐2 antibodiesSEROPREVseroprevalenceUNITY

Identifiers

PMID39823154
PMCPMC11739130

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.