Journal of Clinical Trials
Open Access

Abstract

Efficacy of the Measles-Mumps-Rubella (MMR) Vaccine in the Reducing the Severity of Covid-19: An Interim Analysis of a Randomised Controlled Clinical Trial

Edison Natal Fedrizzi*, Juliana Balbinot Reis Girondi, Thiago Mamoru Sakae, Sérgio Murilo Steffens, Aldanéa Norma de Souza Silvestrin, Grace Serafim Claro, Hugo Alejandro Iskenderian, Bianca Hillmann, Liliam Gervasi, Alberto Trapani Junior, Patricia de Amorim Rodrigues, Amanda de Souza Vieira, Scheila Monteiro Evaristo, Francisco Reis Tristão, Fabiano da Silva Muniz, Maria Veronica Nunes, Nicole Zazula Beatriz, Jhonathan Elpo, Amanda Tiedje, Louise Staudt Siqueira, Marilin Sens, Vitor Nandi, Jessica Goedert Pereira, Gustavo Costa Henrique, Ana Paula Fritzen de Carvalho, Ramon Carlos Pedroso de Morais, Gustavo Giorgio de Cristo, Maria Eduarda Hochsprung, Ana Cristina Morais, Rubens Centenaro, Andrez Garcia, Marcelo da Silva Fedrizzi, Bettina Heidenreich Silva, Eluze Luz Ouriques Neta, Maria Eduarda Alves Ferreira, Maria Eduarda Hames, Maria Eduarda Paixão Gubert, Milena Ronise Calegari, Maria Luiza Baixo Martins, Geovana Samuel Oliveira, Marilia de Souza Marian and Larissa Sell Sousa

Background: COVID-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.

Methods: This 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.

Results: The 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.

Conclusion: This 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.

Published Date: 2021-11-18; Received Date: 2021-10-29