ICMR Will Conduct Human Trials in Mumbai to Study the Effectiveness of BCG Vaccine Against COVID-19

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has said that the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) is conducting a study to gauge the feasibility of the Bacillus Calmette–Guérin vaccine, more commonly known as BCG, to combat COVID-19 among the elderly. 

It’s worth mentioning that BCG is a commonly used vaccine for tuberculosis as well as leprosy. This vaccine will be jointly studied by experts at the Seth GS Medical College, KEM Hospital, as well as the Public Health Department, the BMC said. “The study will also look at degree of severity of the disease and development of immunity using immunological markers,” the civic body added. 

The BMC added that the study will be conducted among people between the ages of 60 to 75 years. The subjects for this study are required to not have caught COVID-19 before or be immunocompromised. Essentially, the civic body is looking for subjects that have a relatively stronger immune system.

The civic body has reportedly acquired the necessary approvals to conduct this trial, with an estimated 250 citizens expected to sign up. The number of subjects may be increased if required, the authorities said. 

Read - KEM Hospital To Conduct Trials For COVID-19 Vaccine

These trials will be conducted primarily in the F-South and G-South wards of the BMC. Those meeting the criteria in the region will be encouraged to participate in this potentially life-saving vaccine study.

Authorities have said that this vaccine has the natural ability to protect against tuberculosis, while also offering resistance against some viral diseases. BCG vaccines are usually administered to infants, especially in countries with large cases of tuberculosis.

Scientists and researchers at ICMR have been tirelessly working to find an effective cure or a vaccine for COVID-19. While drugs like remdesivir were approved early in the day for having shown promising results in treating the virus, developing a new vaccine can take some time. 

But since the BCG vaccine is already well-known and used all over the world, it can be procured relatively easily, in theory anyway. However, the effectiveness of the BCG vaccine needs to be studied in detail, with trial results expected to be published over the next few weeks. 

Also read - Serum Institute’s Adar Poonawalla Says India Should Have COVID-19 Vaccine By December