In Australian Melbourne is tested whether a 100 year old vaccine against tuberculosis can also protect against severe coronavirus infections, reports the Bloomberg news agency.
The Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) is not only used as a live vaccine in numerous countries around the world tuberculosis used, but is also considered as immunotherapy for early bladder cancer. It also appears to strengthen the body’s immune system.
Because a vaccine against that Corona virus is not in sight for the foreseeable future, it is important to know whether the BCG vaccine is also suitable if it is administered in advance, the disease with the Corona virus mitigate infected people, according to the World Health Organization.
Strengthening the immune system
BCG could boost the immune system so that it was able to better defend itself against a variety of different infections, said Nigel Curtis from the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute in Melbournewho runs the trial at the city’s Royal Children’s Hospital.
Hospital employees who volunteered for the six-month study will be randomly vaccinated with BCG starting Monday, among other things. Overall take in Australia 4,000 healthcare workers participated in the study.
Review after three months
Blood samples taken at the beginning and end of the study are used to determine who is using the Corona virus was infected. Participants should log all symptoms during the test. After three months, it should be checked for the first time whether the approach works.
There are already indications of effectiveness. Studies in infants in Africa had shown that by the vaccine especially white blood cells against pathogens are strengthened before using antibodies days later.
The tests are primarily intended to help health care workers against the virus to protect, study leader said Curtis. There is not only a greater risk for them to deal with the Corona virus to infect. The aim is also to reduce the loss of health care workers.
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