Bacillus Calmette-Guerin vaccine to reduce healthcare worker absenteeism in COVID-19 pandemic, a randomized controlled trial.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

The COVID-19 pandemic increases healthcare worker (HCW) absenteeism. The bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine may provide non-specific protection against respiratory infections through enhancement of trained immunity. We investigated the impact of BCG vaccination on HCW absenteeism during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods

HCWs exposed to COVID-19 patients in nine Dutch hospitals were randomized to BCG vaccine or placebo in a 1:1 ratio, and followed for one year using a mobile phone application. The primary endpoint was the self-reported number of days of unplanned absenteeism for any reason. Secondary endpoints included documented COVID-19, acute respiratory symptoms or fever. This was an investigator-funded study, registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT03987919).

SUBMITTER: Ten Doesschate T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9046133 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature