Can a century-old tuberculosis vaccine help beat COVID-19? New research offers some clues

While all eyes have focused on the race to develop a COVID-19 vaccine, other researchers have been working hard on another way to beat the coronavirus. It is a vaccine with a very long track record.

The vaccine was developed over 100 years ago to fight one of the deadliest diseases known to mankind: tuberculosis. It can now play a crucial role in the fight against COVID-19.

“It has the ability to protect you not only against tuberculosis, but against many other viral and bacterial diseases,” said Dr. Moshe Arditi, director of infectious and immunological disorders at Cedars-Sinai.

Scientists have observed that the BCG vaccine causes somehow immune system, not only to fight the bacteria responsible for tuberculosis, but also to attack other foreign invaders.

“They get rid of the attacking virus or bacteria, giving you broad, non-specific protection against many diseases,” he said.

In a new study published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation that used blood samples from 6,000 Southern California healthcare workers, Arditi and her colleagues found that those who had a BCG vaccination were much less likely to have COVID-19 antibodies, meaning that fewer of them had been infected.

“Having a history of BCG vaccination among this cohort at our hospital of health workers provided protection,” he added.

The vaccine is not needed here in the United States, but scientists have noticed that countries that have vaccinated their populations against tuberculosis have fewer cases of COVID-19.

The World Health Organization said this was not enough evidence, so large trials began in Europe, involving thousands of healthcare workers. Cedars-Sinai is now one of four U.S. medical centers that are conducting trials here.

This vaccine may also offer a silver lining.

“Potentially, earlier BCG vaccination can further increase responses to specific COVID vaccines,” Arditi said.

In addition to healthcare workers, Cedars-Sinai also hopes to recruit elderly volunteers and other vulnerable groups for their trial. The results are expected early next year.