Page 47 - MDJ 2022 Jan-Jun, Volume 45 Number 1

Could Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) Vaccine be Used to Protect Against COVID-19?

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vaccination strategy for newborns. BCG was initially MATERIALS AND METHODS
developed by Albert Calmette and Camille Guerin at the
beginning of the twentieth century. First used in 1921, Study Design and Methodology
BCG is presently one of the most generally utilised
vaccines in new-born children and youngsters, in whom its It is a pilot study of 50 samples from a Pakistani
fundamental utility is in the prevention of tuberculous population to assess the correlation between the universal
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meningitis and tuberculosis. A study in Guinea-Bissau BCG vaccination and COVID-19. This study is a
found that children inoculated with BCG were seen to have questionnaire-based cross-sectional descriptive analysis.
a 50 % decrease in overall mortality, which was attributed A standardised and validated questionnaire was prepared
to the vaccine’s effect on lessening respiratory illnesses for this study.
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and sepsis. BCG is additionally utilised as adjuvant
immunotherapy for patients with non-muscle-invasive The study was conducted through Google Forms.
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bladder cancer. There is proof from previous epidemics These forms were sent via a link to the participants through
that supports the hypothesis that the BCG vaccination can WhatsApp, after obtaining ethical approval from the
protect against DNA and RNA viral infections like herpes Institutional Review Committee of the Islamic
and influenza and other maladies (asthma, for instance). International Dental College, Riphah International
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This advocates for the chance of the BCG vaccine University (Ref. No IIDC/IRC/2020/007/001). The link
providing defence against COVID-19, which is related was active from June 2020 to July 2020. Before filling the
with fever and serious respiratory disease. A researcher questionnaire, consent was obtained from the participants.
postulated that there may be a connection between the They were also informed about the purpose of the study.
administration of BCG in every nation and the degree to The questionnaire consisted of demographic information,
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which the spread of COVID-19 occurs. Researchers are time of diagnosis of COVID-19, their current COVID-19
going to start a clinical trial of BCG vaccine on this illness status, test for confirmation of diagnosis, medical history,
soon, in light of the proposed gainful impact of BCG. In and administration with BCG vaccine as a child. They
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Indonesia, a randomised placebo-controlled trial was done. were also asked about the symptoms faced due to the
BCG doses given month to month continuously for 3 coronavirus infection. The study sample was 50, which
months fundamentally decreased the frequency of intense was calculated through WHO sample size calculator.
upper respiratory disease among people aged more than 65 Inclusion Criteria
years. In a preliminary study among Native Americans,
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a BCG vaccine given during adolescence showed
adequacy in preventing tuberculosis as long as 60 years 1. All people who have tested positive for COVID-
19 either by PCR or antibody testing.
after inoculation, demonstrating the durability of this
protection. The basis of the feasible utilisation of BCG 2. All patients who recovered from COVID-19.
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3. All genders included.
vaccine against COVID-19 lies in its non-specific effects
(NSEs) over the immune system. The BCG vaccination 4. All age groups included.
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increases the discharge of pro-inflammatory cytokines Exclusion Criteria
especially IL-1β which appears to play an imperative role
in antiviral immunity. BCG could prompt antigen- 1. People who have not been tested for COVID-19.
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independent initiation of bystander B and T cells — a 2. People who have tested negative for COVID-19.
mechanism that has been named heterologous immunity.
Ultimately, BCG could lead to long term triggering and Data Analysis
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reprogramming of innate immune cells.
The questionnaire data was entered in SPSS
A few nations, like USA and Australia, have version 23. Descriptive analysis and chi-square tests were
never had an all-inclusive BCG strategy. The reasoning run to assess the significant difference between BCG
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behind not inoculating was because of a low TB rate and vaccination and COVID-19.
the ability to utilise the tuberculin skin test in order to
evaluate TB infections. Considering the potential RESULTS
protection of the BCG vaccine against different viral
diseases including SARS-CoV-2, Australia, which A pilot study was conducted on 50 participants
suspended its all-inclusive BCG immunisation in the who were infected by COVID-19. Results were calculated
1980s, is currently testing whether the BCG vaccine can by running a chi-square test, simple descriptive analysis,
shield healthcare workers from SARS-CoV-2 or decrease and cross-tabulation. All the participants were citizens of
COVID-19 related symptoms. Given our present Pakistan; most of them were from Punjab (n = 35, 70 %),
understanding on the BCG vaccine’s nonspecific 26 % (n = 13) were from the federal area, and 4 % (n = 2)
immunotherapeutic mechanisms, and by inspecting belonged to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Among them, 25 were
current epidemiological information, the aim of this study female and 25 were male (Figure 1). The majority of
is to investigate a potential relationship between the participants (38 %, n = 19) belonged to the 31–45 years age
universal BCG vaccine policies and the morbidity and group while only 4 % (n = 2) were older than 60 years of
mortality related to COVID-19 infection in Pakistan.
age. Among the participants, 20 % (n = 10) were front

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