Measles-mumps-rubella booster and post-COVID-19 immunity: A retrospective cohort study
Language English Country Netherlands Media print-electronic
Document type Journal Article
PubMed
40359811
DOI
10.1016/j.vaccine.2025.127232
PII: S0264-410X(25)00529-8
Knihovny.cz E-resources
- Keywords
- Adaptive immunity, Antibody, Cross-protection, Healthcare workers' immunity, Trained immunity, Vaccine additional dose,
- MeSH
- COVID-19 * immunology prevention & control epidemiology MeSH
- Adult MeSH
- Immunoglobulin G blood immunology MeSH
- Middle Aged MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Mumps prevention & control MeSH
- Antibodies, Viral blood immunology MeSH
- Retrospective Studies MeSH
- SARS-CoV-2 immunology MeSH
- Immunization, Secondary * MeSH
- Measles prevention & control immunology MeSH
- Measles-Mumps-Rubella Vaccine * immunology administration & dosage MeSH
- Rubella prevention & control MeSH
- Check Tag
- Adult MeSH
- Middle Aged MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Male MeSH
- Female MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
- Geographicals
- Czech Republic epidemiology MeSH
- Names of Substances
- Immunoglobulin G MeSH
- Antibodies, Viral MeSH
- Measles-Mumps-Rubella Vaccine * MeSH
BACKGROUND: The potential cross-protective effect of measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccination against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is debated. Although immunological studies suggest cross-reactivity between MMR-induced immunity and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), epidemiological evidence remains inconclusive. This study examined the association between an additional MMR dose and both COVID-19 clinical and serological outcomes in an adult cohort with verified pre-pandemic measles immunity. METHODS: In 2019, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, 3027 healthcare workers from a Czech university hospital underwent measles serology testing. Seronegative individuals were offered a single additional MMR dose. Between 2020 and 2021, 261 individuals from the original sample subsequently contracted COVID-19 and underwent post-infection SARS-CoV-2 immunoglobulin G (IgG) serology testing, having remained unvaccinated against COVID-19 until that time. RESULTS: Among 212 women and 49 men (mean age: 42.7 years), 150 were measles-seropositive (without additional vaccination) and 111 were measles-seronegative but received an additional MMR dose. Following COVID-19, 216 participants (82.8 %) exhibited SARS-CoV-2 IgG seropositivity. No significant relationship was observed between measles immunity or MMR vaccine administration and COVID-19 clinical characteristics. However, individuals who received an additional MMR dose were significantly more likely to develop SARS-CoV-2 IgG seropositivity (88.3 % vs. 78.7 %; p = 0.042). Regression analysis confirmed additional MMR vaccination as an independent predictor of post-COVID-19 seropositivity (odds ratio 1.81, 95 % confidence interval 1.17-2.81, p = 0.008), irrespective of the interval between MMR vaccination and COVID-19 symptom onset. No correlation was found between pre-pandemic measles antibody titers and SARS-CoV-2 antibody levels (r = 0.09, p = 0.246). CONCLUSION: While no protective effect of adult MMR vaccination on COVID-19 clinical outcomes was observed, a significant immunological interaction was identified. These findings align with the concept of trained immunity and warrant further investigation.
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