{"id":37832,"date":"2020-05-14T08:30:03","date_gmt":"2020-05-14T08:30:03","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/i-base.info\/htb\/?p=37832"},"modified":"2020-05-15T15:18:50","modified_gmt":"2020-05-15T15:18:50","slug":"israeli-cohort-shows-no-protection-against-covid-19-from-childhood-bcg-vaccination","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/i-base.info\/htb\/37832","title":{"rendered":"Israeli cohort shows no protection against COVID-19 from childhood BCG vaccination"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/b>Simon Collins, HIV i-Base<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

A large observational analysis has reported no relationship between rates or severity of COVID-19 in adults and whether or not they received a BCG vaccination in childhood. [1]<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

These results, published in the Journal of American Medicine (JAMA) are disappointing as it was hoped this vaccine might have <\/span>offered broad protection to respiratory infections. Several papers have also suggested that COVID-19 might have lower prevalence in countries with higher use of the vaccine.<\/p>\n

Changes in vaccination policy in Israel meant that BCG was routinely given to newborn babies from 1955 to 1982 but only subsequently given to migrants from countries with a high prevalence of TB. This allowed researchers to compare two similar aged groups for any evidence of protection against COVID-19.<\/span><\/p>\n

Of 72\u202f060 test results reviewed, 3064 were from patients born between 1979 and 1981 (and 2869 were among likely unvaccinated people born between 1983 and 1985. Both groups were approximately 50% male with mean age 40 and 35 years respectively.<\/p>\n

There was no significant difference in the proportion of positive test results in the BCG vs no-BCG group: 361 (11.7%) vs 299 (10.4%); difference, 1.3%; 95%CI: \u22120.3% to 2.9%;\u00a0p=0.09). There was also no difference in positivity rates per 100\u202f000: 121 vs 100; difference, 21 per 100\u202f000; 95%CI: \u221210 to 50 per 100\u202f000;\u00a0p=\u20090.15).<\/p>\n

One case of severe disease was reported in each group with no deaths.<\/p>\n

comment<\/span><\/h3>\n

The implications of these results are unclear for studies that have already been designed to look at prospective use of BCG vaccination.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

At least ten ongoing studies are already either planned or ongoing that use BCG vaccinations as COVID-19 prophylaxis for adult health workers. [2, 3, 4]<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Unless there is still a mechanism for plausibility of protection, health workers should be allowed to use more promising options. Those that continue for any reason should have a very tightly defined mandate to recognise early futility.<\/strong><\/p>\n

References<\/span><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Hamiel U et al. SARS-CoV-2 rates in BCG-vaccinated and unvaccinated young adults. JAMA, research letter.\u00a0 <\/span>doi:10.1001\/jama.2020.8189\u00a0(13 May 2020).
    \nhttps:\/\/jamanetwork.com\/journals\/jama\/fullarticle\/2766182<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n
  2. clinicltrials.gov. BCG Vaccination to Protect Healthcare Workers Against COVID-19 (BRACE). (n=4170)
    \n    https:\/\/clinicaltrials.gov\/ct2\/show\/NCT04327206<\/a><\/li>\n
  3. clinicltrials.gov. BCG Vaccination for Healthcare Workers in COVID-19 Pandemic (n=500).
    \n    https:\/\/clinicaltrials.gov\/ct2\/show\/NCT04379336<\/a><\/li>\n
  4. Using BCG Vaccine to Protect Health Care Workers in the COVID-19 Pandemic. (n=1500).
    \n    https:\/\/clinicaltrials.gov\/ct2\/show\/NCT04373291<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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