Alliance for Pandemic Preparedness

April 23, 2020

Is there evidence that BCG vaccination has non-specific protective effects for COVID 19 infections or is it an illusion created by lack of testing?

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  • Shivendu et al analyze data from on COVID-19 and BCG vaccination from 98 countries, finding that COVID-19 cases deaths across countries share a relationship with national BCG vaccination, but that this relationship is nullified when controlling for testing. 
  • This study concludes that there is no statistical evidence to support the assertion that inclusion of BCG vaccination in NIP has an impact on COVID-19 incidence or mortality. 

Shivendu et al. (Apr 18, 2020). Is there evidence that BCG vaccination has non-specific protective effects for COVID 19 infections or is it an illusion created by lack of testing? Pre-print downloaded Apr 23 from https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.04.18.20071142