Scientists: Polio vaccine protects against COVID-19

"A "live" polio vaccine can prevent COVID-19," said specialists of the Chumakov Federal Scientific Center for Research and Development of Immune-and-Biological Products of Russian Academy of Sciences.

Poliomyelitis is an infectious disease that can damage the nervous system, lead to muscle paralysis and result in death. The "live" vaccine is a vaccine that contains a weakened live poliovirus.

Aydar Ishmukhametov, director-general of the Chumakov Center, said on Russia 1 that about 60 volunteers had been vaccinated against live polio, resulting in a sharp decline in the number of infections in the group.

Soviet virologist Mikhail Chumakov suggested that in the 1960s, a "live" polio vaccine could soften the flu course.