In a study of 164 healthcare workers in Tongji Hospital in Wuhan, China, oral administration of the antiviral drug Arbidol was significantly correlated with reduced rates of COVID-19 among participants. 

City University of New York

Kenyon College

Prophylactic treatment may be used to prevent COVID-19 infection, especially for high-risk individuals. 

Prophylactic Treatment of COVID-19

Yang, C., Ke, C. Yue, D., Li, W., Hu, Z., Liu W., Hu, S., Wang, S., & Liu, J. (2020). Effectiveness of arbidol for COVID-19 prevention in health professionals. Frontier Public Health.  https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2020.00249
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2020.00249/full#B14

Effectiveness of Arbidol for COVID-19 Prevention in Health Professionals 

Convalescent plasma (filtered plasma containing antibodies from recovered individuals) is a treatment option with ongoing research. It can be used as treatment for severely ill patients or as prophylaxis for highly susceptible individuals. While many patients show marked improvement in symptoms, studies involving CP also include other treatment, so the sole effectiveness of CP transfusion is yet unclear. Recovered individuals are encouraged to donate their plasma for research and recovery.

Convalescent Plasma (CP) Transfusion as Prophylactic Treatment for COVID-19

Researchers used a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study to investigate hydroxychloroquine sulfate as a potential postexposure prophylactic drug for COVID-19. After recruitment in the United States and Canada, 821 asymptomatic individuals who were exposed to COVID-19 were treated within 4 days of contact with infected individuals. Participants were considered highly exposed if they were less than 6 feet away from an individual with confirmed COVID-19 infection for more than 10 minutes without wearing a mask or eye shield. Moderately exposed individuals met all these requirements except they were wearing a mask during exposure. Participants were given either placebo (n=407) or hydroxychloroquine sulfate (n=414) tablets on a dosing regimen. They were monitored for the incidence of COVID-19 infection or related symptoms for 14 days. The results of the study showed that there was no significant difference between new illness and symptoms compatible with COVID-19 infection in the hydroxychloroquine sulfate and placebo groups (11.8% and 14.3%, respectively).  

Hydroxychloroquine as Prophylactic Treatment for COVID-19

- Development of COVID-19 Vaccines
- Types of Vaccines:
     - Virus Vaccines
     - Nucleic Acid Vaccines
     - Viral Vector Vaccines
     - Subunit Vaccines

Genetic Engineering in Vaccine Development for COVID-19

Because of their beneficial effects on strengthening the immune system, prescribing supplements such as prebiotics and probiotics to the elderly, immunocompromised individuals and front-line health care workers may be a cost-effective and important strategy in preventing and controlling the spread of the virus.  

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