A flu vaccine could offer protection against the coronavirus, too.
The kind of flu vaccine in question has a live virus in it. Known as a “live, attenuated vaccines,” they contain live but weakened versions of the virus that are harmless to humans. Live vaccines not only fight the intended disease but also provide protection against other diseases, including respiratory infections, according to researchers interviewed by NPR.
“People who get the live flu vaccine will also be protected against the COVID-19,” said Robert Gallo, director of the Institute of Human Virology at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. “That’s the hypothesis.”
Scientists believe that live vaccines supercharge the immune system, creating not only antibodies but also boosting something called “myeloid cells.” These cells are the body’s first line of defense that try to remove a virus or other type of infection before it spreads.
Research has shown that people vaccinated with live tuberculosis and measles vaccines have reduced mortality rates from many different types of infectious diseases. Currently, there are over a dozen clinical trials around the world looking at whether live tuberculosis and polio vaccines offer protection against COVID-19.
However, getting a live flu vaccine is no guarantee against getting COVID-19. Even if it does, the protection is likely temporary, a few months at most, according to scientists. And getting a flu vaccine is not a license to stop taking other protective measures such as face masks, social distancing, and avoiding large crowds.
