Coronavirus – Epidemic appears milder in countries administering BCG vaccine

The spread of the novel coronavirus appears to have been less aggressive in countries that have been administering the BCG vaccine for decades, Hungary’s chief epidemiologist said on Sunday.

Several countries, including Australia, are investigating the link between the BCG vaccine against tuberculosis (TB) and the milder spread of the virus, János Szlávik of the Budapest South Pest Hospital told public news channel M1.

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Hungary, too is conducting a test that involves readministering the BCG shot to health-care workers to see if they are better protected against coronavirus, he said.

However, since the epidemic is winding down in Hungary, it is unclear if the experiment will yield conclusive results, Szlavik said, adding, at the same time, that the answer to the question would likely become clear during a potential second wave of the virus.

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