BCG vaccination found beneficial to fight COVID-19 Says ICMR study

ICMR tweets about a study done to see impact of BCG vaccination on healthy elderly individuals (age 60-80 years) that shows enhanced innate and adaptive immunity in elderly individuals which may be beneficial against Coronavirus (COVID-19).

“We investigated the impact of BCG vaccination on the frequencies of T cell, B cell, monocyte, and dendritic cell subsets as well as total antibody levels in a group of healthy elderly individuals (age 60-80 years) at one-month post-vaccination as part of our clinical study to examine the effect of BCG on COVID-19. Results: Our results demonstrate that BCG vaccination-induced enhanced frequencies of central and effector memory CD4+ T cells and diminished frequencies of naive, transitional memory, stem cell memory CD4+ T cells, and regulatory T cells. In addition, BCG vaccination-induced enhanced frequencies of central, effector, and terminal effector memory CD8+ T cells and diminished frequencies of naive, transitional memory and stem cell memory CD8+T cells.”

In final conclusion of the study, it has been proved that BCG vaccination can be helpful in fighting against COVID-19 because vaccine induces increased memory cell responses and total antibody production in elderly “BCG vaccination was associated with enhanced innate and adaptive memory cell subsets, as well as total antibody levels in elderly individuals, suggesting its potential utility in SARS-Cov2 infection by enhancing heterologous immunity.”

In Maharashtra people are already opting for BCG shots to counter and dull the attack of COVID-19. Senior NCP leader Sharad Pawar admitted to having BCG vaccination as a precautionary measure.