Amid concerns about a Third wave of Covid-19 that may affect children In addition, a study carried out by researchers in India found that children who were vaccinated with the measles vaccine had milder symptoms when infected with the novel coronavirus than those who were not vaccinated.
The study, conducted by BJ Medical College in Pune, also showed that the measles vaccine was 87.5 percent effective against the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
The study, published in the peer-reviewed journal Human Vaccines and Immunotherapeutics, also states that measles vaccines could provide long-term protection against SARS-CoV-2 infection in children. The researchers behind the study called for more trails to confirm their findings.
“This is the first such study in the world. We focused on MMR vaccines for the study because the amino acid sequence of SARS-CoV-2 is almost 30 percent similar to that of rubella virus. The spike (S) protein of SARS-CoV -2 is also similar to the hemagglutinin protein of the measles virus. That is why we conducted the study and the results are promising, “pediatrician Dr. Nilesh Gujar, the study’s lead researcher, told IndiaToday.in.
Nilesh Gujar also said the MMR vaccine can also help prevent cytokine storms in children affected by Covid-19. Cytokine storm is when the body starts attacking its own cells and tissues instead of just fighting off the virus.
“The MMR vaccine will provide heterogeneous protection to children until a Covid-19 vaccine is made available. Those who have not been fully vaccinated or have received a single dose will need to get vaccinated to protect them against measles and potentially also get some protection against Covid -19 “, said Dr. Nilesh Gujar opposite IndiaToday.in.
HOW THE STUDY WAS DONE
The news bodes well for India as the measles vaccine has been part of the country’s routine immunization program for 35 years. In India, the first dose of the measles vaccine is given at 9-12 months of age and the second dose at 16-24 months of age.
The study was carried out on 548 children aged 1 to 17 years. They were divided into two groups – those who tested positive for Covid-19 by RT-PCR testing and those who weren’t.
All participants in the study had received oral polio virus (OPV) and all but one had received Bacillus CalmetteGuerin vaccines.
“Measles-containing vaccines (MCVs) reduced the incidence of laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infections in children. The number of symptomatic cases was also lower in the vaccinated group than in the unvaccinated group, ”the study stated. “Age and gender did not affect the protection offered by MCVs,” it said.
COVID-19 VACCINATIONS FOR CHILDREN
The study confirms the hypothesis of several researchers that children could be protected from SARS-CoV-2 infection by “unspecific immunity” from attenuated live vaccines such as measles and BCG.
So far, the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic have been milder in children and adolescents than in adults. However, children can be important vectors for transmitting the virus, the researchers found.
So far, only the Covid-19 vaccine manufactured by Pfizer has been approved for use in children. The vaccine is not yet available in India. In India, Zydus Cadila and Bharat Biotech conducts clinical studies their vaccinations in children.
In March, mBio magazine reported that Ohio State University researchers had developed a new Covid-19 vaccine candidate called rMeV-preS using a measles vaccine. A key protein gene is included in a measles vaccine and released into the body.
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