Clinical trials to findout what can work against coronavirus (part 1)

According to an article published in The Times of India, dated March 30th, 2020, BCG or the bacillus Calmette-Guerin vaccine that has been used for ages to immunize new-borns to protect against tuberculosis, is being given to health-care workers in Melbourne to see if it can protect them against the deadly coronavirus. BCG, in addition to prevention against tuberculosis, has off-target benefits as well. It is a common immunotherapy for early-stage bladder cancer; it also seems to boost body’s immune system to fight infections better.

The study reported is led by Nigel Curtis, at Murdoch Children’s Research Institute in Melbourne. According to him, BCG vaccine can boost the immune system and defend better against a range of viruses and bacteria. 4000 health care workers have volunteered to participate in a six-month trial to be vaccinated against seasonal influenza and TB, or the flu shot only. A placebo vaccine cannot work as a control in this case as BCG shot causes localized skin irritation and leaves a scar.

Blood sample collected from the volunteers at the start and end of the trials will determine the patients infected with the coronavirus. Participants can note the symptoms observed during the trial period. The data collected will be reviewed by the monitoring committee to see if the approach is working or not.

Similar studies are also going on in Netherlands.
There is no guarantee whether this approach will work or not, we can only hope.

Reference:

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/science/100-year-old-tb-vaccine-is-being-tested-as-a-weapon-against-coronavirus/articleshow/74882028.cms


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