Marcelo da Silva Fedrizzi, Aldanea Norma de Souza Silvestrin, Maria Eduarda Hames, Maria Eduarda Paixao Gubert, Larissa Sell Sousa, Marilin Sens, Hugo Alejandro Iskenderian, Ana Cristina Morais, Amanda Roepke Tiedje, Grace Serafim Claro, Maria Luiza Baixo Martins, Gustavo Giorgio de Cristo, Rubens Centenaro, Maria Eduarda Hochsprung, Maria Veronica Nunes, Louise Beni Staudt de Siqueira, Ana Paula Fritzen de Carvalho, Sérgio Murilo Steffens, Vitor Leonardo Nandi, Edison Natal Fedrizzi, Andrez Garcia, Patricia de Amorim Rodrigues, Bettina Heidenreich Silva, Jhonathan Elpo, Ramon Carlos Pedroso de Morais, Geovana Samuel Oliveira, Thiago Mamoru Sakae, Marilia de Souza Marian, Eluze Luz Ouriques Neta, Maria Eduarda Alves Ferreira, Scheila Monteiro Evaristo, Juliana Balbinot Reis Girondi, Nicole Zazula Beatriz, Jéssica Goedert Pereira, Alberto Trapani, Liliam Cristini Gervasi, Milena Ronise Calegari, Amanda de Souza Vieira, Bianca Ruschel Hillmann, Fabiano da Silva Muniz, Francisco Reis Tristão, and Gustavo Costa Henrique
BackgroundCOVID-19 is still a challenge, both with regard to its treatment and to the actual efficacy of the vaccines available to date, especially with the emergence of new variants. We evaluated the efficacy of the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine in preventing SARS-CoV-2 infection and severity of COVID-19 in health workers.MethodsThis analysis includes data from one ongoing blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled trial with participants aged 18-60 years were randomly assigned to receive the MMR vaccine or a placebo. The primary efficacy analysis included all participants with a positive nasopharyngeal RT-PCR test since their inclusion.ResultsThe MMR vaccine did not prevent the SARS-CoV-2 infection. Participants in the MMR group, compared with those in the placebo group, had a 48% risk reduction in symptomatic COVID-19 (RR = 0.52; 95% CI: 0.33–0.83; p=0.004) and a 76% risk reduction in COVID-19 treatment (RR = 0.24; 95% CI: 0.06 – 0.88; p = 0.020) with one dose and a 51% risk reduction in COVID-19 symptoms (RR = 0.49; 95% CI: 0.31 – 0.78; p = 0.001) and a 78% risk reduction in COVID-19 treatment (RR = 0.22; 95% CI: 0.06 – 0.82; p = 0.015) with two doses.ConclusionsThis interim analysis of an ongoing clinical trial suggests that compared with a placebo, the vaccine reduces the risk of COVID-19 symptoms and reduces the need for COVID-19 treatment.Clinical Trials RegistryBrazilian Clinical Trials Registry (ReBEC n° RBR-2xd6dkj - https://ensaiosclinicos.gov.br/rg/RBR-2xd6dkj).HIGHLIGHTSThe MMR vaccine can stimulate the innate immunity inducing a nonspecific protection against other infections, called heterologous immunity.Repeated exposure to the antigen (innate immune response training) results in an extension of the action time of this immune response (innate immune response memory) and consequently in protection against other infections (heterologous immunity) for a longer time.The MMR vaccine has been used by national immunization programs in the world for many years, it is very safe and can be stored and distributed at 2-8°C, making it particularly suitable for global distribution.Among participants who received at least one dose, compared with those in the placebo group, participants in the MMR group had a significant risk reduction in symptomatic COVID-19 and of cases requiring treatment.The use of MMR vaccine can be useful in several populations in the world that do not have access to the COVID-19 vaccine and in a future epidemic or pandemic as an emergency measure until specific treatments or vaccines for each case are available to the general population.