The tuberculosis vaccine (the BCG vaccine) does not protect vulnerable people aged 60 and over against COVID-19. This is evident from the first results of a large-scale study in which twenty Dutch hospitals took part on Monday.
Some of the more than six thousand patients received the BCG vaccine and some a placebo (a dummy vaccine).
The first research results now show that infection with the coronavirus in combination with disease symptoms occurred just as often in frail older people who received a placebo as in frail older people who received a BCG vaccine.
Research is continuing to see if the tuberculosis vaccine affects the severity of COVID-19 infection “or reduces susceptibility to other respiratory infections.” Another clinical study is also underway into the influence of the BCG vaccine in other groups, including healthcare workers.
Research leader Marc Bonten from UMC Utrecht calls the conclusion disappointing, but points out that it was important to share the preliminary results immediately.
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