Mumbai: Adults line up for MMR baby vaccine to fight Covid-19

MUMBAI: Amid discussions around the potency of measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine to prevent an acute Covid-19 infection and a proposed clinical trial in the US, many adults are now queuing to get booster shots.
While the jury is still out on whether MMR vaccine can really prevent Covid-19 or at least dull the attack, doctors caution against its mass use without further research.
MMR vaccine is given to infants at nine months of age, which is one of the reasons why some medical experts believe children are protected from Covid.The vaccine costs between Rs 200 and Rs 600.
Before MMR vaccine, there were theories about the protection that anti-TB vaccine Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) possibly offered. Multiple clinical trials world over are looking at the BCG-Covid connection, including a trial in Maharashtra where BCG is being studied as a Covid treatment.
Efficacy a presumption, but what’s the harm, say doctors
Dr Hemant Gupta, professor of medicine at Grant Medical College (JJ Hospital) said that he has taken the MMR vaccine himself and administered to his family members as well. “At least 20 others have taken it, including doctors. Studies have shown that the Rubella virus has around 30% structural similarity with the Sars-Cov2 and hence the belief that the vaccine could offer some protection,” said the doctor, who has taken two doses. “In the absence of any other safeguard, what’s the harm in taking it? It’s one of the safest.”
Dahisar-based paediatrician Dr Arvind Srivastava said that he took it despite knowing that its efficacy was only a presumption. “Not many children have got acute Covid and MMR could be one of the reasons,” he said, adding that people above 45 years should consider taking the vaccine.
In an article published in the American Society for M icrobiology two weeks ago, two US-based researchers speculated that vaccination with MMR in healthy individuals has no contraindications and may be even effective, and on this basis have proposed a clinical trial for healthcare workers.
Dr Shashank Joshi, dean of the Association of the Physicians of India, said that live attenuated vaccines are known to train the body’s immune response and help one fight better. “We have included MMR in the list of vaccines that adults can take. However, without research, it will be difficult to say how far it can prevent Covid. People shouldn’t start taking it en masse,” he said.
Physician Dr Hemant Thacker, too, expressed scepticism and said that he has received several enquiries, but has not advised it so far. “There is no scientific evidence of this vaccine to prevent or treat Covid so far,” he said.
Paediatric infectious disease expert Dr Tanu Singhal said that apart from pregnant women or any person who is immunocompromised, others can take the vaccine. “But there is no concrete evidence to say it protects against Covid-19,” she said.