Immunopathologic basis of Confer Hypothesis: Other Wild Viral Exposure and Immunization can possibly Confer Protection against Coronavirus Infections - Abstract
Despite having limited healthcare resources and high infectious diseases burden, some regions of the world have lower CoVID-19 case incidence and case-fatality indices. Epidemiological studies suggest that pediatric age group is relatively spared by SARS-CoV-2 outbreak and those children affected don’t seem to develop serious clinical illness as seen in the adult population. Children worldwide are covered under WHO Expanded Immunization Program. As children age, the antibody titers of several vaccines also start to decline which coincide with increasing trend of CoVID-19 attributed mortality in the adult population. These observations have resulted in the “Confer Hypothesis”. This hypothesis states that one of the existing vaccines such as Measles and / or past viral infections can potentially confer immunity against CoVID-19. In this review, pathophysiological basis, merits, criticism and future directions of Confer Hypothesis is discussed.