Can the BCG vaccine protect against COVID-19?

The Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine, originally developed to prevent tuberculosis, has been studied as a possible protection against COVID-19. Here are the key findings and conclusions from recent research.

The BCG vaccine is known for its ability to “train” the immune system, meaning that it can boost the innate immune response to a variety of infections, not just tuberculosis. This concept, known as “trained immunity,” has led to the hypothesis that the BCG vaccine may also provide some protection against SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.

Some observational studies have suggested that countries with extensive BCG vaccination programs appear to have lower COVID-19 incidence and mortality rates.

A randomized trial in Greece, known as the ACTIVATE trial, suggested that BCG vaccination may reduce the incidence of respiratory infections in older adults, but the direct implications for COVID-19 are still unclear.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has stated that, despite the interesting concept of trained immunity, there is currently insufficient evidence to recommend the use of the BCG vaccine specifically for the prevention of COVID-19. They emphasize the importance of continuing existing BCG vaccination programs for tuberculosis prevention.

Source: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41577-020-0285-6

Source: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9294453/

Author: Prof. Dr. Dirk Devroey - Latest update: 2023-12-12 - Copyright: Clinifacts 2024