Document Type : Short Communication
Authors
1 Department of Dermatology Venereology and Leprology, Smt NHL Municipal Medical College, Ahmedabad, India
2 Department of Dermatology Venereology and Leprology, Post Graduate institute of Medical education and research, Chandigarh, India
Abstract
Vaccine makers are racing to develop COVID-19 vaccines and have advanced ten candidates into clinical trials. However, vaccine development is typically a lengthy process. A number of immune
response modifiers have also been explored for their efficacy in the management of COVID-19. In this short communication, we explore the possibility of using Mycobacterium indicus pranii (MIP) for the management of severely ill COVID-19 patients and its plausible role in the mitigation of severe disease in mildly infected patients. The MIP vaccine has a proven role in the prevention of leprosy to house-hold contacts of lepromatous leprosy, category-II tuberculosis patients, and patients with severe septicemia and low CD4 counts. It has also been used as an immune response modifier in patients with bladder carcinoma. Notably, this vaccine may be more efficacious than the BCG
vaccine. The possible benefits and risks of using such an agent are described in this article. The use of such an approach could be beneficial in resource-poor countries and countries where diseases like tuberculosis and leprosy are endemic.
Keywords
)