Can an old vaccine stop the new coronavirus?

[Maddox]

A tuberculosis vaccine invented a century ago is cheap and safe, and seems to bolster the body’s immune system.

A vaccine that was developed a hundred years ago to fight the tuberculosis scourge in Europe is now being tested against the coronavirus by scientists eager to find a quick way to protect health care workers, among others.

The Bacillus Calmette-Guerin vaccine is still widely used in the developing world, where scientists have found that it does more than prevent TB. The vaccine prevents infant deaths from a variety of causes, and sharply reduces the incidence of respiratory infections.

The vaccine seems to “train” the immune system to recognize and respond to a variety of infections, including viruses, bacteria and parasites, experts say. There is little evidence yet that the vaccine will blunt infection with the coronavirus, but a series of clinical trials may answer the question in just months.

But evidence accumulating over the past decade suggests the vaccine also has so-called off-target effects, reducing viral illnesses, respiratory infections and sepsis, and appears to bolster the body’s immune system.

Can an Old Vaccine Stop the New Coronavirus? (Published 2020)

A tuberculosis vaccine invented a century ago is cheap and safe, and seems to bolster the body’s immune system.

www.nytimes.com