We demonstrated that the severe clinical course of COVID 19 infection predicted for Neanderthal haplotype carriers was effectively counteracted by the protective effect exerted by the three-locus extended haplotype HLA-A*02, B*18, DRB1*03, once again confirming the crucial role of HLA molecules in immune response mechanisms, including those responsible for the different infection rates of SARS-COV-2 variants. The gene discussed is HLA-A; the disease is infection.