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Here is more on the MMR vaccine and how it can be useful for Covid 19.
What is an MMR vaccine?
The Measles, Mumps, and Rubella or MMR vaccine as the name say protect against these diseases. These diseases usually strike in childhood and before the vaccine was developed there were incidents of deaths of children due to these diseases. MMR vaccine was developed by the American microbiologist Maurice Hilleman and it was licensed for use by the US-based pharmaceutical company Merck in 1971.
The MMR vaccines have weakened measles, mumps, and rubella viruses that help the body to develop immunity against these pathogens. The vaccine is recommended for children who are usually given two doses one in 12 to 15 months and then from 4 years onward. The vaccine can be taken by adults too and in fact, it is given to given to all US Navy recruits. The vaccine is also recommended before undertaking international travel.
The vaccine is not recommended for pregnant women and those with compromised immune systems.
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MMR and Covid-19
A new study by US-based Louisiana State University says that the MMR vaccine can help to reduce septic inflammation associated with COVID-19 infection.
“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,” said researcher Paul Fidel, Louisiana State University.
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. 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.
He added, “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.”
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