Does BCG provide long-term protection against SARS-CoV-2 infection? A case-control study in Quebec, Canada.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Early in the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, before severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) vaccines became available, it was hypothesized that BCG (Bacillus Calmette-Guérin), which stimulates innate immunity, could provide protection against SARS-CoV-2. Numerous ecological studies, plagued by methodological deficiencies, revealed a country-level association between BCG use and lower COVID-19 incidence and mortality. We aimed to determine whether BCG administered in early life decreased the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection in adulthood and the severity of COVID-19.

Methods

This case-control study was conducted in Quebec, Canada. Cases were patients with a positive SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid amplification test performed at two hospitals

SUBMITTER: Pepin J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8354805 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature