Human trials have begun en-masse for the COVID-19 vaccine, but global uncertainty still remains about when a viable and safe vaccine will actually be ready for mass-production and use. In the meantime, Singaporeans have been encouraged to use surgical masks, practice social distancing and maintain good personal hygiene.
But what else may help to reduce the chances of you contracting the COVID-19 virus?
Infectious disease specialist at Mayo Clinic, Dr Andrew Bradley, recently suggested on CNN that prior routine vaccination may be one of the factors in reducing the risk of getting infected.
“When we looked in the setting of Covid disease, we found that people who had prior vaccinations with a variety of vaccines – for pneumococcus, influenza, hepatitis and others – appeared to have a lower risk of getting Covid disease.”
Dr Bradley linked this phenomenon to what is commonly known as immune training – which is how one’s immune system creates a response effective enough to ward off infections.
“A good analogy is to think of your immune system as being a muscle,” he said. “The more you exercise that muscle, the stronger it will be when you need it.”
This is not the first time that the role that prior vaccinations play in the prevention of the novel coronavirus has been investigated.
The measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine became a hot topic in June this year once again – but for a very different reason this time – when researchers in the United States suggested that administering a booster dose of the vaccine to individuals may help to boost their immunity in general. This, they surmised, would then help in reducing the chances of COVID-19 infection in these individuals.
Moreover, the uptake of the vaccine against tuberculosis, more commonly known as the Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccine, has also been positively correlated with lower mortality rates. Countries in which the majority of or many individuals had received the BCG vaccine were found to have lower rates of death in those affected with COVID-19.
This, once again, has been linked to the potential of most routine vaccines to boost immunity in general, thus making it harder for the vaccinated individual to either be affected by or succumb to the coronavirus.
These routine vaccines, of course, also protect you from dangerous diseases such as measles, tuberculosis and are essential to the well-being of adults and children alike.
At Clari Health, all routine vaccines are readily available. When you make an appointment with us by calling 8754 4101, booking online or e-mailing us at mparam@clarihealth.com, you will be given up-to-date advice as well as the latest CDC and WHO-based recommendations on vaccines that may be beneficial for you.
