THE coronavirus disease (COVID-19) had taken a toll on the world. Scientists across the globe race to develop the first vaccine against the novel coronavirus. A team of researchers in four countries will soon start a clinical trial in the hope of battling against the novel coronavirus. The test will see if a century-old vaccine used against tuberculosis (TB) can boost the immune system to fight the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2).

The vaccine, VPM1002, called bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG), was developed initially against tuberculosis by researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology. It may also be effective against COVID-19.

The large-scale trial is to be undertaken at various hospitals.

Usually, BCG is given to children in their first year of life, preventing about 60 percent of TB cases in children. The vaccine may boost the immune system’s ability to fight off pathogens, including the deadly coronavirus.

Various studies in mice have shown that the BCG vaccine does not only protect against tuberculosis but also other viral infections affecting the respiratory tract. Evidence has also shown that mice suffering from influenza have fewer influenza A viruses in their blood if they were given the BCG vaccine before.

Further studies have also shown that having the BCG vaccine increases laboratory animals’ resistance to other viruses, showing promise as a method of treatment for COVID-19.

The vaccine is currently being tested in a Phase III study on adult volunteers in India and has been noted to be more effective than the standard BCG vaccination used today. The trial is expected to be completed by mid-2020.

The trial will also commence in Germany, among health workers and older adults, who are at a higher risk of severe COVID-19 disease. Around 1,000 staff are taking part in the trial, with half of them receiving the BCG vaccine, while others will have a placebo.

Yielding positive results in the clinical trial can help ease the burden on various healthcare systems until a vaccine is developed.

(SD-Agencies)