BMC to administer BCG vaccine to elderly to reduce COVID fatality

BCG vaccine against tuberculosis will be given to the elderly to reduce the COVID fatality rate. The BCG vaccine will be given to people between the ages of 60 and 75 who do not have corona infection, HIV or cancer, with the consent of seniors, after a six-month study.

Mumbai: COVID-19 has been spreading in Mumbai since March. The number of deaths due to corona is higher among patients over 60 years of age. The Bacillus Calmette–Guérin (BCG) vaccine against tuberculosis will be given to the elderly to prevent the death of elderly patients. The BCG vaccine will be given to people between the ages of 60 and 75 who do not have corona infection, HIV or cancer, after a six-month study with the consent of seniors, a municipal health official said.

Statistics show that COVID -19 is more prevalent among the elderly worldwide. Due to various other diseases among them, COVID-19 is more prevalent and fatality rate is also high. So, the municipality has decided to prevent the death of the elderly. The elderly have been ordered to be treated at a municipal hospital in case of COVID -19. The municipality is also considering giving the BCG vaccine administered to babies so that the elderly do not get infected with the deadly virus.

While the BCG vaccine protects young children against tuberculosis, it has been shown to be effective against COVID-19. Therefore, Indian Council of Medical Research, ICMR, has undertaken research to see if the BCG vaccine is useful for the elderly in fighting COVID -19. Research in Chennai, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Bhopal, Jodhpur and New Delhi will study whether the vaccine can reduce the risk, severity and mortality of corona, and protect senior citizens. The King Edward Memorial hospital and health department of the municipality will jointly conduct the research and permission has been obtained for the study, the official said.

The BCG vaccine also protects against many respiratory ailments. The BCG test will be performed on healthy people between the ages of 60 and 75, as well as those who do not have a terminal illness such as HIV or cancer. For this, 250 persons will be selected as volunteers. The test will be conducted in Parel, Lal Baug, Sewri, Bhoiwada, Worli, Prabhadevi and Lower Parel, the official said. Meanwhile, the health department official added that people should come forward on their own in the BCG trial being conducted by the Brihan Mumbai Municipal Corporation.