Search

We conducted the current analysis to determine the potential role of polio vaccination in the context of the spread of COVID-19. Data were extracted from the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Global Health Observatory data repository regarding the polio immunization coverage estimates and correlated to the overall morbidity and mortality for COVID-19 among different countries. Data were analyzed using R software version 4.0.2. Mean and standard deviation were used to represent continuous variables while we used frequencies and percentages to represent categorical variables. The Kruskal-Wallis H test was used for continuous variables since they were not normally distributed. Moreover, the Spearman rank correlation coefficient (rho) was used to determine the relationship between different variables. There was a significantly positive correlation between the vaccine coverage (%) and both of total cases per one million populations (rho = 0.37; p-value < 0.001) and deaths per one million populations (rho = 0.30; p-value < 0.001). Moreover, there was a significant correlation between different income groups and each of vaccine coverage (%) (rho = 0.71; p-value < 0.001), total cases per one million populations (rho = 0.50; p-value < 0.001), and deaths per one million populations (rho = 0.39; p-value < 0.001). All claims regarding the possible protective effect of Polio vaccination do not have any support when analyzing the related data. Polio vaccination efforts should be limited to eradicate the disease from endemic countries; however, there is no evidence to support the immunization with live-attenuated vaccines for the protection against COVID-19.

Aim: We conducted the current analysis to determine the potential role of measles vaccination in the context of the spread of COVID-19. Methods: Data were extracted from the world health organization’s (WHO) Global Health Observatory data repository about the measles immunization coverage estimates and correlated to overall morbidity and mortality for COVID-19 among different countries. Data were statistically analyzed to calculate the Spearman rank correlation coefficient (rho). Result: There was no significant correlation between the measles vaccine coverage (%) and both of new cases per one million populations (rho= 0.21; p-value= 0.052) and deaths per one million populations (rho= 0.21; p-value< 0.080) (Figure 1; Figure 2). On further analysis of the effect of the first reported year of vaccination policy, there was no significant correlation with both total cases per one million populations (rho= 0.10; p-value= 0.361) and deaths per one million populations (rho= 0.17; p-value= 0.156). Conclusion: Claims regarding the possible protective effect of measles vaccination seem to be doubtful.