[ad_1]
The Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine to prevent tuberculosis should be administered to healthcare workers and the elderly as prophylaxis (preventive action) for coronavirus disease (Covid-19), according to an article published in the Indian Journal of Orthopedics.
“The BCG vaccine is known to confer broad-spectrum immunity not only against tuberculosis but also against other diseases. Indians have already been administered BCG as part of our immunization program, but other countries, where it was discontinued, could use BCG vaccine prophylaxis along with the chloroquine now in use. It has already been tested in humans and is widely available, ”said Dr. Ajay Gupta, author of the article and an orthopedic surgeon at the Maulana Azad School of Medicine.
The immunity conferred through the BCG vaccine may be effective in preventing a cytokine storm, the article suggests. A cytokine storm is when the immune system goes into overdrive and begins attacking cells and body tissues in addition to fighting an infection.
“Virus-specific CD8 T cells (of key importance to the immune system) were found to have a special affinity for BCG-induced granulomas (a collection of immune cells) resulting in substantial accumulation of virus-specific CD8 T cells there. Such an affinity can be made to be used in patients with COVID-19 to divert and subvert their overactive immune response to BCG granulomas, “the study says.
“This basically means that the BCG-induced immune response could reduce the chances of cytokine storms, which is what leads to death in such viral infections,” said Dr. Gupta. “However, the immune response is generated six to ten weeks after the vaccine is administered. Meanwhile, for immediate protection already available, the oral salmonella vaccine can be used to increase Th1 immunity,” he added. Th1 immunity refers to immunity against intracellular parasites.
“There is no concrete evidence to suggest that the BCG vaccine will protect against viral infection, but it is a hypothesis that needs to be studied by comparing robust data from where the vaccine is administered and where it is not. However, BCG vaccine is a known immunomodulator, ”said Dr. Shobha Broor, former head of the microbiology department at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences.
Australia, for example, has embarked on a large clinical study of the BCG vaccine among healthcare workers.
In addition to analyzing immunomodulation through available vaccines, the article also suggests that natural exposure to mycobacteria (tuberculosis), Salmonella (typhoid), and influenza can boost the immune system and lead to less serious infections and deaths from Covid-19.
“COVID-19 has been seen to affect most those countries that have a free and robust influenza vaccination program that leads to reduced natural influenza infection among their population,” the article read.
“Countries where flu vaccines are readily available have witnessed a poor course of infection. This could be because, in the absence of a natural flu infection, the mucous membrane cannot develop innate immunity that is effective against all types of pathogens, “said Dr. Gupta.
To study the impact of natural infections on the Covid-19 course, Dr. Gupta’s team will perform an immune analysis of 20 Covid-19 patients who have severe disease, 20 who have mild symptoms, and 20 who have not had the infection. . The team received an ethical authorization for the study.
