Exploring the efficacy of the Mycobacterium indicus pranii (MIP) vaccine in reducing the impact of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic

Vaccine makers are racing to develop covid-19 vaccines andhave advanced ten candidates into clinical trials. however, vaccinedevelopment is typically a lengthy process. a number of immuneresponse modifiers have also been explored for their efficacyin 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 andits plausible role in the mitigation of severe disease in mildlyinfected patients. the mip vaccine has a proven role in theprevention of leprosy to house-hold contacts of lepromatousleprosy, category-ii tuberculosis patients, and patients withsevere septicemia and low cd4 counts. it has also been used asan immune response modifier in patients with bladder carcinoma.notably, this vaccine may be more efficacious than the bcgvaccine. the possible benefits and risks of using such an agentare described in this article. the use of such an approach couldbe beneficial in resource-poor countries and countries wherediseases like tuberculosis and leprosy are endemic.