Researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), published a new paper in Cell Reports Medicine which showed that multiple doses of the Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccine protected against COVID-19 and other infectious diseases in people with Type 1 Diabetes. The BCG vaccine is an avirulent tuberculosis strain Mycobacterium bovis historically given to protect against tuberculosis since 1921.
144 people with Type 1 Diabetes (of whom 96 BGC treated and 48 placebo) were analysed in the COVID-19 trial and were followed for COVID-19 related outcomes for 15 months.
The BCG-vaccinated group also displayed protective effects against other infectious diseases, including fewer symptoms, lesser severity and fewer infectious disease events per patient. No BCG-related systemic adverse events occurred. The researchers also found that three doses of BCG administered prior to the start of the pandemic prevented infection and limited severe symptoms from COVID-19 and other infectious diseases.
