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BCG Vaccine does not Protect Against COVID-19
Mohamed F Allam1, Ghada E El-D Amin1
1Department of Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt.
The Open Respiratory Medicine Journal
|December 10, 2020
Summary
The Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine likely does not protect against COVID-19. Evidence from countries with high COVID-19 rates and BCG vaccination schedules suggests no protective effect.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Infectious Diseases
- Vaccinology
Background:
- A hypothesis suggested the Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine might protect against COVID-19.
- This was based on observations of BCG vaccination status in countries affected by COVID-19.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the hypothesis that BCG vaccination protects against COVID-19.
- To analyze the correlation between BCG vaccination policies and COVID-19 prevalence.
Main Methods:
- Comparative analysis of COVID-19 impact in countries with and without routine BCG vaccination.
- Review of immunological mechanisms of BCG and viral immunity.
Main Results:
- Severely affected countries like China and Iran continue routine BCG vaccination.
- BCG primarily enhances cell-mediated immunity, with limited impact on humoral immunity, which is crucial for viral protection.
Conclusions:
- The BCG vaccine is unlikely to provide protection against COVID-19.
- The hypothesis linking BCG vaccination to COVID-19 protection lacks strong supporting evidence based on epidemiological data and immunological principles.
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