MMR vaccines may prevent severe lung inflammation and sepsis associated with COVID-19 infection

Live attenuated vaccines or MMR may be a good preventive measure against health complications that occur during COVID- 19 infection.

Professors Paul Fidel and Mairi Noverr suggest that live attenuated vaccines such as MMR may help in the fight against COVID-19. Their research indicates that MMR vaccines prevent severe lung inflammation and sepsis. Both symptoms are part of the clinical picture that presents itself during a COVID-19 infection.

Findings from this research are available online in the journal mBio.

The Findings

The research shows that live attenuated vaccines can activate nonspecific immune cells. These cells then train leukocytes to mount a more effective defense against infections. Furthermore, through a laboratory experiment, they show that vaccination with a live attenuated fungal strain creates innate protection against lethal sepsis. The protection is produced by long-lived myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) which inhibit septic inflammation and mortality.

However, the authors point out that these findings do NOT suggest MMR vaccines as a treatment against COVID-19. Instead, the researchers suggest they can help create an immune preventive measure against the severe inflammatory symptoms of COVID-19.

Also, the findings indicate that adults that got the MMR vaccine as children need revaccination. More specifically, the immune cells that fight against sepsis, are no longer present. These bystander cells are long-lived but not life-long and that is why the vaccination has to be done again.

Indications

The evidence from this research indicates that MMR vaccines are a good prevention measure, especially for immunocompromised individuals. Furthermore, people that decide to get the vaccine are not at risk of infection. Not only that, but they can get better immunity for the mumps, measles, and rubella.