CLEARWATER, Fla. – December 12, 2020 – Today, Dr. Lisa Avery, a neurologist in Clearwater, Florida, announced the results of a focused study of cross-reactive immunity and resistance to COVID-19. Dr. Avery investigated active immunity, with a focus on correlating cross-reactive immunity and COVID-19 disease resistance. The theory is that cross-reactive immunity is protecting certain individuals, especially children, from the new and different coronavirus causing COVID-19. Cross reactive immunity, sometimes referred to as cross-immunity or cross-protective immunity, is a phenomenon of immunity.

“The scientific theory is to use acquired cross-immunity as a ‘stopgap measure’ to prevent the spread of SARS-CoV-2 virus or COVID-19 infection,” Avery explained. “It seems that we can create resistance to COVID-19 by using certain well-established vaccine(s) to generate cross-reactive immunity against SARS-CoV-2. Significant antigenic commonality exists between the SARS-CoV-2, ZVZ and HBV viruses and the HBV and VZV vaccines; and there is strong evidence that cross-reactive immunity due to prior immunization against VZV and/or HBV may be providing protection against SARS-CoV-2.” Generally, it takes about ten years before the true effectiveness of a new vaccine is known. During that time, SARS-CoV-2 could mutate (antigenic shift and drift), so using certain well-established vaccine(s) to generate cross-reactive immunity may be the pivotal factor in controlling the COVID-19 pandemic.

The VZV and HBV vaccination history of children and some adults appears to be well-correlated with the observed age-related disparity of SARS-CoV-2 infection rates and severity of COVID-19 symptoms.  By using VZV vaccination +/- HBV vaccine series to activate/enhance cross-reactive neutralizing antibodies against SARS-CoV-2, the idea is to quickly create protection against infection and mitigate the symptomatology, morbidity and mortality of COVID-19 until a SARS-CoV-2 vaccine is proven effective.