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BCG vaccination induced protection from COVID-19.
Mohapatra, Prasanta Raghab; Mishra, Baijayantimala; Behera, Bijayini.
  • Mohapatra PR; Professor & Head, Department of Pulmonary Medicine & Critical Care, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhubaneswar, 751019, India. Electronic address: prmohapatra@hotmail.com.
  • Mishra B; Professor & Head, Department of Microbiology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhubaneswar, 751019, India.
  • Behera B; Associate Professor, Department of Microbiology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhubaneswar, 751019, India.
Indian J Tuberc ; 68(1): 119-124, 2021 Jan.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-696521
ABSTRACT
There are worldwide urgency, efforts, and uncertainties for the discovery of a vaccine against SARS CoV2. If successful, it will take its own time till useful for the humans. Till the specific vaccine is available, there are evidences for repurposing existing other vaccines. It is observed that countries having a routine BCG vaccination programme, have shown to have lower incidence of COVID-19, suggesting some protective mechanisms of BCG against COVID-19 in such countries. In countries like India despite vast population density and other adversities, and growing numbers of COVID19 infections, the mortality rate and severity of COVID has been low in comparison to some TB non-endemic countries (like Europe and USA). In addition, there are evidences that BCG vaccination offers partial protection and survival in low-income countries where tuberculosis is prevalent. The nonspecific effects (NSEs) of immune responses induced by BCG vaccination protect against other infections seem to be due to its immunological memory eliciting lymphocytes response and trained immunity. The protective effect on other viral infection in humans are believed to be mediated by heterologous lymphocyte activation and the initiation of innate immune memory may be applicable to SARS CoV2. The BCG vaccination at birth does not have a protective effect beyond childhood against COVID-19. In adults, there might be other factors dampening the virulence and pathogenicity of COVID-19. In the TB endemic countries like India, with high population density, similar to BCG vaccination, the environmental Mycobacteria might be imparting some immune-protection from severity and deaths of COVID-19.
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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: BCG Vaccine / COVID-19 Type of study: Observational study / Prognostic study Topics: Vaccines Limits: Humans Language: English Journal: Indian J Tuberc Year: 2021 Document Type: Article

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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: BCG Vaccine / COVID-19 Type of study: Observational study / Prognostic study Topics: Vaccines Limits: Humans Language: English Journal: Indian J Tuberc Year: 2021 Document Type: Article