Could BCG be used to protect against COVID-19?

Nat Rev Urol. 2020 Jun;17(6):316-317. doi: 10.1038/s41585-020-0325-9.

Abstract

Nearly 100 years since it was first used in humans as a vaccine for tuberculosis, Bacillus Calmette–Guérin (BCG) has been suggested as a possible agent to prevent coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). A number of studies are underway to investigate this possibility but — even if they prove effective — many questions will remain.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adjuvants, Immunologic / administration & dosage*
  • Animals
  • BCG Vaccine / administration & dosage*
  • Betacoronavirus / drug effects*
  • Betacoronavirus / physiology
  • COVID-19
  • Clinical Trials as Topic / methods
  • Coronavirus Infections / diagnosis
  • Coronavirus Infections / epidemiology
  • Coronavirus Infections / prevention & control*
  • Humans
  • Pandemics / prevention & control*
  • Pneumonia, Viral / diagnosis
  • Pneumonia, Viral / epidemiology
  • Pneumonia, Viral / prevention & control*
  • SARS-CoV-2

Substances

  • Adjuvants, Immunologic
  • BCG Vaccine