A new study has shown that the BCG (Bacillus calmette gurin) vaccine can help fight the corona epidemic. It is a vaccine used to protect children from Tubrculosis (TB). This new findings of the study was published in Indian Journal of Applied Research by Dr Renu Agarwal, Medical Superintendent (MS) of Covid-19 hospital in Noida, Uttar Pradesh. The study revealed that the BCG Vaccine rapidly strengthens the body’s immunity.
In stage 1 of the study, out of 80 employees, 30 medical and paramedical staff, doing covid duty in Noida District Hospital were administered BCG in April and none of them have become positive till date. 50 were asked to work at COVID-19 hospital without being vaccinated. All these employees were tested for coronavirus every 15th day using RT-PCR. In the second phase, about a month later, among the 50 employees who were not vaccinated, 16 were found infected. Subsequently a second group of 130 employees was constituted on August 24 and 50 were vaccinated as part of a follow-up trial. All 50 medical and paramedical staff were doing COVID-19 duties and none of them have tested positive yet. A control group of 80 staff members were taken, out of which 20 tested positive. Dr Agarwal said that she got herself vaccinated too and has remained free from coronavirus so far.
Majority of the staffs who were vaccinated with BCG were suffering from diabetes, hypertension and other serious diseases. The study mentioned that the effect of BCG vaccine was seen in the employees after one month. It is to be noted that no employee was infected despite suffering from serious illnesses and they are still working in COVID-19 hospital without being infected. However, the health department said that none of them had seen any further difficulties and that this could be considered a huge success. The test results were released by the Department of Health on November 4.
