Diphtheria And Tetanus Vaccination History Is Associated With Lower Odds of COVID-19 Hospitalization

Abstract

BackgroundCOVID-19 is characterized by strikingly large, mostly unexplained, interindividual variation in symptom severity: while some individuals remain nearly asymptomatic, others suffer from severe respiratory failure. Previous vaccinations for other pathogens, in particular tetanus, may partly explain this variation, possibly by readying the immune system.MethodsWe made use of data on COVID-19 testing from 103,049 participants of the UK Biobank (mean age 71.5 years, 54.2% female), coupled to immunization records of the last ten years. Using logistic regression, covarying for age, sex, respiratory disease diagnosis, and socioeconomic status, we tested whether individuals vaccinated for tetanus, diphtheria or pertussis, differed from individuals that had only received other vaccinations on 1) undergoing a COVID-19 test, 2) being diagnosed with COVID-19, and 3) whether they developed severe COVID-19 symptoms.ResultsWe found that individuals with registered diphtheria or tetanus vaccinations are less likely to develop severe COVID-19 than people who had only received other vaccinations (diphtheria odds ratio (OR)=0.47, p-value=5.3*10-5; tetanus OR=0.52, p-value=1.2*10-4).DiscussionThese results indicate that a history of diphtheria or tetanus vaccinations is associated with less severe manifestations of COVID-19. These vaccinations may protect against severe COVID-19 symptoms by stimulating the immune system. We note the correlational nature of these results, yet the possibility that these vaccinations may influence the severity of COVID-19 warrants follow-up investigations.

Association of Social, Demographic, Health, Nutritional and Environmental Factors With the Incidence and Death Rates of COVID-19; a Global Cross-Sectional Analytical Study.

“…This finding is in consensus with multiple studies which describe cross-reactive immunity from these vaccines as a possible mechanism [6], [17], [18]. A study by Monereo-Sanchez et al reports that patients, who received diphtheria and tetanus vaccines were less likely to develop severe COVID-19 infection [6]. A molecular-level analysis was done by Reche et al, which found that there was significant cross-reactivity between diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis combination vaccine [17].…”

“…In addition, it was also found that the percentage of children given DTP immunization showed a negative linear relationship with COVID-19 mortality. This finding is in consensus with multiple studies which describe cross-reactive immunity from these vaccines as a possible mechanism [6], [17], [18]. A study by Monereo-Sanchez et al reports that patients, who received diphtheria and tetanus vaccines were less likely to develop severe COVID-19 infection [6].…”

“…Immunization history, particularly past vaccination of diphtheria and tetanus vaccines has been observed to be associated with lower odds of COVID-19 hospitalization, possibly due to crossreactive immunity [6].…”

Analysis of the Influence of Social and Economic Factors on COVID-19 Cases with the Principal Component Analysis (PCA) Method

“…Second, children aged 12-23 months who have received DPT and measles immunizations support a number reduction for some COVID-19 related numbers. These findings agreed with previous research that state Diphtheria vaccination history is associated with lower odds of COVID-19 hospitalization thus reduced the number of severe reaction and deaths caused by COVID-19 [14].…”

Pre-existing humoral immunity to low pathogenic human coronaviruses exhibits limited cross-reactive antibodies response against SARS-CoV-2 in children

“…Interestingly, the re-infections with age did not influence the neutralizing activity although it appeared to increase the cross-reactivity antigen-specific antibodies levels. Nevertheless, other studies have found that vaccination of measles-mumps-rubella or tetanus-diphtheria-pertussis provided a protective role against the severe COVID-19 by activating the cross-reactive T cell response, which is a possible explanation for children with reduced susceptibility and severe clinical syndrome in SARS-CoV-2 infection ( 39 – 41 ). Thus, the cross-reactive T cell response should be an important point for future study since poor cross-reactive neutralizing antibodies are stimulated by LPH-CoVs.…”