The measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine has actually been thought to supply security versus COVID-19. In a brand-new research study released today (November 20, 2020) in mBio, an open-access journal of the American Society for Microbiology, scientists supply more evidence of this by revealing that mumps IgG titers, or levels of IgG antibody, are inversely associated with seriousness in recuperated COVID-19 clients formerly immunized with the MMR II vaccine produced by Merck. MMR II includes the Edmonston pressure of measles, the Jeryl Lynn (B-level) pressure of mumps, and the Wistar RA 27/3 pressure of rubella.
“We found a statistically significant inverse correlation between mumps titer levels and COVID-19 severity in people under age 42 who have had MMR II vaccinations,” stated lead research study author Jeffrey E. Gold, president of World Organization, in Watkinsville, Georgia. “This adds to other associations demonstrating that the MMR vaccine may be protective against COVID-19. It also may explain why children have a much lower COVID-19 case rate than adults, as well as a much lower death rate. The majority of children get their first MMR vaccination around 12 to 15 months of age and a second one from 4 to 6 years of age.”
In the brand-new research study, the scientists divided 80 topics into 2 groups. The MMR II group included 50 U.S. born topics who would mostly have MMR antibodies from the MMR II vaccine. A contrast group of 30 topics had no record of MMR II vaccinations, and would mostly have MMR antibodies from other sources, consisting of previous measles, mumps, and/or rubella diseases. The scientists discovered a considerable inverted connection (rs = -0.71, P < 0.001) in between mumps titers and COVID-19 seriousness within the MMR II group. There were no substantial connections in between mumps titers and illness seriousness in the contrast group, in between mumps titers and age in the MMR II group, or in between seriousness and measles or rubella titers in either group.
Within the MMR II group, mumps titers of 134 to 300 AU/ml (n=8) were just discovered in those who were functionally immune or asymptomatic. All with moderate COVID-19 signs had mumps titers listed below 134 AU/ml (n=17). All with moderate signs had mumps titers listed below 75 AU/ml (n=11). All who had actually been hospitalized and needed oxygen had mumps titers listed below 32 AU/ml (n=5). Titers were determined by Quest Diagnostics utilizing their basic diagnostic procedure.
“This is the first immunological study to evaluate the relationship between the MMR II vaccine and COVID-19. The statistically significant inverse correlation between mumps titers and COVID-19 indicates that there is a relationship involved that warrants further investigation,” stated coauthor David J. Hurley, PhD, teacher and molecular microbiologist at the University of Georgia. “The MMR II vaccine is considered a safe vaccine with very few side effects. If it has the ultimate benefit of preventing infection from COVID-19, preventing the spread of COVID-19, reducing the severity of it, or a combination of any or all of those, it is a very high reward low risk ratio intervention. Maximum seropositivity is achieved through two vaccinations at least 28 days apart. Based upon our study, it would be prudent to vaccinate those over 40 regardless of whether or not they already have high serum MMR titers.”
Reference: “Analysis of Measles-Mumps-Rubella (MMR) Titers of Recovered COVID-19 Patients” by Jeffrey E. Gold, William H. Baumgartl, Ramazan A. Okyay, Warren E. Licht, Paul L. Fidel Jr., Mairi C. Noverr, Larry P. Tilley, David J. Hurley, Balázs Rada and John W. Ashford, 20 November 2020, mBio.
DOI: 10.1128/mBio.02628-20
