Rohtak-PGIMS to test BCG vaccine in Covid battle

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How the vaccine works

The BCG vaccine contains a live but weakened strain of TB bacteria that provokes the body to develop antibodies to attack the bacteria. This is called an adaptive immune response, because the body develops a defence against a specific disease-causing microorganism, or pathogen, after encountering it. Most vaccines create an adaptive immune response to a single pathogen.

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How it’s different

Unlike other vaccines, the BCG vaccine may also boost the innate immune system, first-line defenses that keep a variety of pathogens from entering the body or from establishing an infection.

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Studies show promise

One study in Guinea-Bissau found 50% lower mortality rates in children vaccinated with BCG than in kids who did not get this shot. That is a much bigger drop in deaths than could be explained by a reduction in TB cases. Some studies have found similar reductions in respiratory infections among teens and the elderly.

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Ravinder Saini

Tribune News Service

Rohtak, April 30

The Pt BD Sharma Post Graduate Institute of Medical Science (PGIMS) will begin clinical trials from Friday to test the use of tuberculosis vaccine BCG (Bacillus Calmette-Guerin) to treat Covid-19.

The trials would be done on 175 attendants of Covid patients, including close contacts, doctors, nurses, ward boys and sanitary workers. They will be administered the BCG vaccine and kept under observation for the next 180 days to find out its effect.

The BCG vaccine — introduced in the 1920s to fight TB — is currently administered to newborn children. Dr Dhruv Choudhry, investigator of the research and head of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine at PGIMS, said the BCG vaccine in known to enhance immunity and is used against tuberculosis, but it also possesses the ability to induce potent protection against other infectious disease. “The study aims to explore whether or not persons given the BCG vaccine catch coronavirus infection. If yes, then what is the severity? If not, then it will show its protective role,” said Dr Choudhry, also the state nodal officer for Covid.

Dr Savita Verma, another investigator and professor with the Department of Pharmacology, said the trials will be conducted in a phased manner. In the first phase, consent would be taken from Covid patients’ attendants to be involved in the study. Thereafter, their samples would be collected for testing. “They would be administered BCG vaccine if they test Covid-negative. Though the vaccination will be done in health centres, but if someone is unable to come there, a team will be sent to their house,” she said.

A mobile application has been developed for those taking part in the trial so they can fill up a questionnaire during the observation period. “The follow-up will be done online, but they will be called in person for follow-up, if required,” Dr Verma added.

Dr Ramesh Verma, another co-investigator, said the coronavirus was essentially infecting people with low immunity. “The study will find out whether the BCG shot proves helpful in protection against Covid by raising immunity,” he said.