Lots of youths are queuing to get booster shots of measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine ever since a journal of the American Society for Microbiology suggested that it could prevent an acute COVID-19. The paper said that the vaccine serves as a preventive measure to dampen septic inflammation associated with COVID-19 infection. But doctors warn against its mass use without recommendation or further research.
According to (Padma Shri) Dr KK Aggarwal, Renowned & Preventive Interventional Cardiologist, the MMR vaccine can provide temporary and indirect immunity but not direct immunity. In fact, any vaccine which is live attenuated can help to provide indirect immunity.
“However, there is no such recommendation to take the MMR vaccine. As, there is no side effect of it, one can take it only when it is recommended,” Dr KK Aggarwal added.
In an article published, two US-based researchers speculated that vaccination with MMR in healthy individuals has no contraindications and maybe even effective, and on this basis have proposed a clinical trial for healthcare workers.
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A senior doctor of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) said that MMR) vaccine cannot be used for the treatment of coronavirus patients.
“The MMR vaccine stands for Measles, Mumps and Rubella. The Measles & Mumps vaccine is generally given to children & the Rubella vaccine is given to the pregnant women to prevent Congenital Rubella Syndrome or Congenital Deformities in babies before birth. It has no relation and nothing to do with COVID-19 and cannot be used for its treatment,” said Dr Chandrakant S. Pandav, Former Professor & Head of Centre for Community Medicine, AIIMS.
Dr Pandav said that the vaccine can worsen the condition of coronavirus positive patients and can even lead to death.
“The MMR vaccine has common side effects such as fever, however, if it is given to the COVID-19 patients, it can worsen their condition or even result in death,” he added.
