Is the tuberculosis vaccine BCG an alternative weapon for developing countries to
defeat COVID-19?
#MMPMID34099209
Gong W
; Wu X
Indian J Tuberc
2021[Jul]; 68
(3
): 401-404
PMID34099209
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BACKGROUD: Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is a new respiratory infectious
disease, and there is no vaccine currently. Previous studies have found that BCG
vaccination can provide extensive protection against respiratory infectious
diseases. METHODS: Herein, we obtained the latest data from the World Health
Organization (WHO) as of August 12, 2020, and determined the relationship between
three parameters (including the BCG vaccination coverage, human development index
(HDI), and transmission classifications) and the incidence rate and mortality of
COVID-19. RESULTS: The results showed that the morbidity and mortality of
COVID-19 in countries with BCG vaccination recommendation were significantly
lower than these in countries without BCG vaccination recommendation, and
countries with lower HDI have lower morbidity and mortality. In addition, we also
found that the mode of virus transmission is also related to the morbidity and
mortality of COVID-19. CONCLUSIONS: Although our data supports the hypothesis
that BCG vaccination is beneficial in reducing the morbidity and mortality of
COVID-19, the data supporting this result may be inaccurate due to many
confounders such as PCR testing rate, population characteristics, and protection
strategies, the reliability of this result still needs to be verified by clinical
trials.
|*BCG Vaccine/immunology/therapeutic use
[MESH]
|*COVID-19/epidemiology/prevention & control
[MESH]
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