Related Experiment Video

Updated: Nov 9, 2025

Protective Efficacy and Pulmonary Immune Response Following Subcutaneous and Intranasal BCG Administration in Mice
06:32

Protective Efficacy and Pulmonary Immune Response Following Subcutaneous and Intranasal BCG Administration in Mice

Published on: September 19, 2016

10.8K

Association between COVID-19 morbidity and mortality rates and BCG vaccination policies in OECD countries

Yuki Senoo1,2, Yosuke Suzuki1,3, Kenji Tsuda1,4

  • 1Medical Governance Research Institute, Minato-ward, Tokyo, Japan.

Journal of Infection Prevention
|April 16, 2021
PubMed

Insights

The Bacillus Calmette-Guérin vaccination (BCGV) policy may reduce coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases. Countries with BCGV policies showed fewer COVID-19 cases and deaths compared to those without.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Epidemiology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • The global impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) necessitates understanding potential protective factors.
  • The Bacillus Calmette-Guérin vaccination (BCGV) is a widely implemented vaccine with known immunomodulatory effects.
  • Variations in national BCGV policies exist among Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between national BCG vaccination policies and COVID-19 outcomes.
  • To determine if BCGV implementation influences COVID-19 morbidity and mortality rates.
  • To explore the potential protective role of BCGV against COVID-19.

Main Methods:

  • Comparative analysis of COVID-19 morbidity and mortality data.
  • Examination of national BCG vaccination policies in OECD countries.
  • Statistical comparison between countries with and without established BCGV policies.

Main Results:

  • Countries currently implementing a national BCGV policy exhibited lower rates of COVID-19 morbidity.
  • A significant reduction in COVID-19 mortality was observed in nations with existing BCGV policies.
  • Comparison revealed fewer COVID-19 cases in countries with versus without a BCGV policy.

Conclusions:

  • The findings suggest a potential protective effect of BCGV against COVID-19.
  • National BCGV policies may be associated with reduced COVID-19 burden.
  • Further research is warranted to elucidate the mechanisms behind BCGV's potential impact on COVID-19.

Keywords:
Bacillus Calmette-Guerin vaccineCOVID-19OECDcoronavirus infectionsepidemiology

More Related Videos

Author Spotlight: Optimizing CFU Determination for Efficient Assessment of TB Vaccine Efficacy and Antigen Presentation Analysis06:26

Author Spotlight: Optimizing CFU Determination for Efficient Assessment of TB Vaccine Efficacy and Antigen Presentation Analysis

Published on: July 28, 2023

2.6K
A Functional Whole Blood Assay to Measure Viability of Mycobacteria, using Reporter-Gene Tagged BCG or M.Tb BCG lux/M.Tb lux08:10

A Functional Whole Blood Assay to Measure Viability of Mycobacteria, using Reporter-Gene Tagged BCG or M.Tb BCG lux/M.Tb lux

Published on: September 14, 2011

14.0K

Related Concept Videos

Vaccinations01:51

Vaccinations

Overview
48.8K
Bias in Epidemiological Studies01:29

Bias in Epidemiological Studies

Biases can arise at various stages of research, from study design and data collection to analysis and interpretation. Recognizing and addressing these biases is essential to ensure the validity and reliability of epidemiological findings.Broadly speaking, biases in epidemiology fall into three main categories: selection bias, information bias, and confounding. A more detailed description of possible biases is:  
919
Causality in Epidemiology01:21

Causality in Epidemiology

Causality or causation is a fundamental concept in epidemiology, vital for understanding the relationships between various factors and health outcomes. Despite its importance, there's no single, universally accepted definition of causality within the discipline. Drawing from a systematic review, causality in epidemiology encompasses several definitions, including production, necessary and sufficient, sufficient-component, counterfactual, and probabilistic models. Each has its strengths and...
1.2K
Factors Affecting Illness01:18

Factors Affecting Illness

When a person's physical, emotional, intellectual, social development or spiritual functioning is compromised, this deviation from a healthy normal state is called illness. Illness creates stress that in turn harms individuals. Irritation, anger, denial, hopelessness, and fear are behavioral and emotional changes an individual experiences in the phases of illness. A variety of factors influence a person's health and well-being.
For instance, risk factors are connected to illness,...
4.7K
Principles of Disease Surveillance01:26

Principles of Disease Surveillance

Disease surveillance is the systematic collection, analysis, and interpretation of health data essential to the planning, implementation, and evaluation of public health practice. This process integrates data dissemination to entities responsible for preventing and controlling disease, injury, and disability. Surveillance systems provide crucial information for action, helping public health authorities make informed decisions to manage and prevent outbreaks, ensure public safety, optimize...
289
Types of Biopharmaceutical Studies: Controlled and Non-Controlled Approaches01:23

Types of Biopharmaceutical Studies: Controlled and Non-Controlled Approaches

Biopharmaceutical studies constitute a vital field aiming to enhance drug delivery methods and refine therapeutic approaches, drawing upon diverse interdisciplinary knowledge. In research methodologies, the choice between controlled and non-controlled studies significantly influences the study's reliability and accuracy.
Non-controlled studies, commonly employed for initial exploration, lack a control group, rendering them susceptible to biases and external influences. In contrast,...
223