Analysis of Measles-Mumps-Rubella (MMR) Titers of Recovered COVID-19 Patients

Abstract

The measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine has been theorized to provide protection against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Our aim was to determine whether any MMR IgG titers are inversely correlated with severity in recovered COVID-19 patients previously vaccinated with MMR II. We divided 80 subjects into two groups, comparing MMR titers to recent COVID-19 severity levels. The MMR II group consisted of 50 subjects who would primarily have MMR antibodies from the MMR II vaccine, and a comparison group of 30 subjects consisted of those who would primarily have MMR antibodies from sources other than MMR II, including prior measles, mumps, and/or rubella illnesses. There was a significant inverse correlation (rs = −0.71, P < 0.001) between mumps virus titers (mumps titers) and COVID-19 severity within the MMR II group. There were no significant correlations between mumps titers and severity in the comparison group, between mumps titers and age in the MMR II group, or between severity and measles or rubella titers in either group. Within the MMR II group, mumps titers of 134 to 300 arbitrary units (AU)/ml (n = 8) were found only in those who were functionally immune or asymptomatic; all with mild symptoms had mumps titers below 134 AU/ml (n = 17); all with moderate symptoms had mumps titers below 75 AU/ml (n = 11); all who had been hospitalized and had required oxygen had mumps titers below 32 AU/ml (n = 5). Our results demonstrate that there is a significant inverse correlation between mumps titers from MMR II and COVID-19 severity. IMPORTANCE COVID-19 has presented various paradoxes that, if understood better, may provide clues to controlling the pandemic, even before a COVID-19 vaccine is widely available. First, young children are largely spared from severe disease. Second, numerous countries have COVID-19 death rates that are as low as 1% of the death rates of other countries. Third, many people, despite prolonged close contact with someone who is COVID-19 positive, never test positive themselves. Fourth, nearly half of people who test positive for COVID-19 are asymptomatic. Some researchers have theorized that the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine may be responsible for these disparities. The significance of our study is that it showed that mumps titers related to the MMR II vaccine are significantly and inversely correlated with the severity of COVID-19-related symptoms, supporting the theorized association between the MMR vaccine and COVID-19 severity.

Near Complete Protection Against Covid-19 in a Section of Population: Implication of Lockdown on Development of Passive Vaccination to Counter SARS-CoV-2 Attack

“…The table shows the different vaccines used in India during the last century to vaccinate majority of the population at a you nger age. Such vaccines have been effective in controlling some dreadful disease [8] In this direction, a recent study has shown that mumps titers related to the MMR II vaccine are significantly and inversely correlated with the severity of COVID-19-related symptoms [7] which supports our hypothesis of existence of unrelated prior immunization resulted in such swift & unexpected control of COVID-19 in spite of no active vaccination or medication administered for treatment of COVID-19. Further corroboration for such robust immune response has come from some studies which demonstrate that i) some persons respond to the coronavirus through a T cell mediated immune response; ii) Blood samples from 2015 exposed to flu virus, showed a T cell response to SARS-CoV-2 in 2020; and iii) more recently study showing that some immunized with other pathogens had cross-reactive T h cells that were capable of recognizing & responding faster to the SARS-CoV-2 virus [9][10][11].…”

“…The population was passively vaccinated against attenuated form of SARS-CoV-2 during the prolonged and sustained Lockdown. Literature available in this regard, presumed that measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine could be responsible for such protection against COVID-19 [7].…”

“…Now, we hypothesize that additionally, effective Lockdown may have slowed down the viral progression (attenuation) which aided in the development of passive immunization against SARS-CoV-2. Recent study published in the journal Science does show generation of adaptive immunity in COVID-19 individuals [7]. In this article we have taken up studies in a section of population, to further elucidate the role of passive immunization, induced by sustained Lockdown, in protecting the population against the SARS-CoV-2 infection.…”

Peer Review #3 of "Is there a link between pre-existing antibodies acquired due to childhood vaccinations or past infections and COVID-19? A case control study (v0.2)"

“…Trained immunity can be described as "an innate immune memory program induced by certain infections or vaccinations" (Netea & van der Meer, 2017). Although a recent study has found a relationship between MMR vaccination and PeerJ reviewing PDF | (2020: 09:53234:1:0:NEW 30 Dec 2020) Manuscript to be reviewed COVID-19 severity using mumps titers as a proxy (Gold et al, 2020), it was not possible to verify this with our study, since we used alternate methodology. Live pertussis vaccine has been reported to provide non-specific immune responses in mice models, however this effect waned after the vaccine was inactivated by heat (Cauchi & Locht., 2018).…”

Reply to Marakasova and Baranova, “MMR Vaccine and COVID-19: Measles Protein Homology May Contribute to Cross-Reactivity or to Complement Activation Protection”

“…M arakasova and Baranova make a good, incremental step trying to explain the results of our paper, "Analysis of Measles-Mumps-Rubella (MMR) Titers of Recovered COVID-19 Patients" (1). We believe the predictable waning of mumps IgG titers over time allows mumps titers to serve as a proxy measure of overall MMR II vaccine persistence.…”