BCG vaccine can control spread: research-India news

A reduction in Covid-19 infection and death were reported in the first month of occurrence in countries that were vaccinated with the Bacillus Calmette Guerin (BCG) vaccine to prevent childhood tuberculosis. New insights on why some countries, such as India, are better than some major countries in their efforts against coronaviruses.

of Role of BCG vaccine Previously associated with milder Covid-19 infections, a study investigating infections and mortality in more than 130 countries found Covid-19 deaths in areas without a BCG vaccination policy since 2000. It has been shown for the first time that it has increased sharply.

Analysis includes median age, gross domestic product per capita, population density, population size, net migration rate, and growth rates in both cases and deaths after controlling various cultural aspects (such as individualism). Clarified the important impact of the mandatory BCG policy on. Our analysis suggests that the mandated BCG vaccination may be effective in combating Covid-19,” says University of Michigan researchers on July 31 It states in a study published in the Association (AAAS) journal.

By applying a statistical model based on the findings, the researchers further estimated that as of March 29, 2020, only 468 Covid-19s had died in the United States. That is 19% of the 2,467 deaths to date. – If the United States had a compulsory BCG vaccination decades ago.

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The BCG vaccine has been given to children since 1949, and in 2019, at least 97% of the 26 million babies born that year received it. The vaccine protects against disseminated tuberculosis and meningitis in childhood, but does not provide protection against pulmonary tuberculosis in adults and has been discontinued in some countries.

Researchers say benefits were seen in countries where policies were being implemented until around 2000. “In particular, the growth curve was steep in those countries that mandated BCG policies, as did those who did not mandate vaccines… that is, there is “population immunity” that prevents the virus from spreading easily throughout the population. Only then could the virus spread slowly, they added.

The study took three specific approaches to eliminate external bias, the researchers added. “First, we focused on the growth rate of both cases and deaths. As long as these biases remained stable for the duration of the study, reporting biases would have no effect. To meet this requirement , Short-term (first 30 or 15 days) Second, we used the best estimate of reporting bias by country and used this as the weight of our analysis. We managed to test for availability,” they said.

However, the findings also show that there is significant variability in Covid-19 growth rates among countries where BCG is mandated, and an additional social variable is the need for coronavirus by forced BCG vaccination. It suggests that it is likely to affect the spread. Therefore, “BCG is by no means a magic bullet that guarantees safety against Covid-19,” the authors added.

On July 18, the Indian Council for Medical Research-The Tuberculosis Research Institute (ICMR-NIRT) conducts a multicenter study to determine whether the BCG vaccine can reduce the severity of Covid-19 in people over the age of 60. Announced that the above is in the hot spot of the coronavirus epidemic.

According to a statement, the study includes approximately 1,000 healthy volunteers aged 60 and older in six states that have reported high burdens of Covid-19 disease to date. “There’s been a lot of talk about Covid-19 about the protective effects of the BCV vaccine. This study has been in the pipeline for some time, and now we have begun the process. That is India-specific evidence. Is being done to generate,” said an ICMR official.