New Delhi: The MMR (Measles, Mumps and Rubella) Vaccine could help dampen septic inflammation associated with COVID-19 infection says a study published in the journal mBio says. The mortality in COVID-19 cases is strongly associated with progressive lung inflammation and eventual sepsis so researchers have said that this vaccine can help to protect against COVID-19 and is especially beneficial to healthcare workers as preventive measures from worst symptoms. ALSO READ | Mumbai Based Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Gets Approval For Antiviral Drug Favipiravir For Covid -19 Treatment

According to an IANS report, researchers from the study Paul Fidel from the Us based Louisiana State University said "Live attenuated vaccines seemingly have some nonspecific benefits as well as immunity to the target pathogen. A clinical trial with MMR in high-risk populations may provide a low-risk-high-reward preventive measure in saving lives during the COVID-19 pandemic.”

The reports say that the researchers believe that there is evidence which demonstrates that live attenuated vaccines provide nonspecific protection against lethal infections which are unrelated to the target pathogen.

The vaccine helps in inducing ‘nonspecific innate immune cells’ that improves the response of the ‘host’ against subsequent infection. It also said that the vaccine trains the immune system cells in the bone marrow to function more effectively against broader infectious injury.

"While we are conducting the clinical trials, I don't think it's going to hurt anybody to have an MMR vaccine that would protect against the measles, mumps, and rubella with this potential added benefit of helping against Covid-19," Fidel added.

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The researchers say that an MMR vaccine can induce ‘myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs)’ that can help to inhibit septic inflammation and which leads to a reduction of severe lung inflammation/sepsis associated with COVID-19.

According to the report, milder symptoms were seen in the 955 sailors on the USS Roosevelt who tested positive for COVID-19 (only one hospitalisation) and this could be because MMR vaccinations are given to all US Navy recruits. In the study, the researchers have maintained that clinical trials are yet to be done.