COVID-19 in the Indian Territory of Lakshadweep – Role of MMR Vaccination in the Management of COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

COVID-19 caused by SARS-CoV-2 virus, is a contagious disease which has spread across the entire world within one year and four months of its first appearance in Wuhan, China. Since then new mutated strains of SARS-CoV-2 have been detected in most of the countries including India; the first variant being detected in the United Kingdom (B 7.1.1). We had reported earlier that some regions of Indian Territory had minimal spread of COVID-19 in the population. Among them, one exception was territory of Lakshadweep which did not have even a single case of COVID-19 until December, 2020. However, the first case of COVID-19 emerged in Lakshadweep in January, 2021. The significance of spread of COVID-19 in the population which were previously immunized with MMR (Mumps Measles Rubella) vaccine with plausible role of MMR vaccination in management of COVID-19 has been evaluated in this article.