Covid-19: People who skipped childhood TB vaccine at higher risk

The common vaccine administered to protect children from tuberculosis has shown significant association with reduced risk of Covid-19 deaths, experts say.

 

Information from the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation (Gavi), the vaccine known as Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) produces life-long enhanced immunity against other respiratory diseases such as Covid-19.

 

“The researchers found that every 10 per cent increase in BCG index was associated with a 10.4 per cent reduction in Covid-19 mortality,” the information on the Gavi website reads.

 

The agency which is behind Covid-19 vaccine development and global sharing, says there are ongoing studies in countries such as Netherlands and Australia to determine how exactly the BCG protects people from Covid-19 death.

 

“This means that we will only know for certain if BCG vaccine works against Covid-19 once results of a number of clinical trials have been fully scrutinised,” the vaccine agency wrote.

 

BCG is approved for use in Uganda by National Drug Authority.