Possible Role of BCG-Induced Trained Immunity to Reduce the Prevalence and Severity of COVID-19 in High-Risk Population

Authors: Gupta G, Chatterji S, Jain S, Thukral H, Arumugaswami V, Guha SK, Basu A, Gupta S and Sinha S*

Special Issue 1: COVID-19 Disease Characteristics in Different Types of Patients

Abstract

In the last few months COVID-19 has been spreading unchecked to most of the countries of the world. While the impact has varied from one nation to the other and the differences attributed to various factors, universal BCG vaccination is thought to be protective by some. BCG is thought to protect by the new concept of trained immunity over and above the enhanced innate and adaptive immune response. In the current scenario, the most effective way to curb the spread of the virus is a vaccine and it may take at least 12–18 months to develop. In the meantime, other measures like hand hygiene, mask use, social distancing, and lockdown are being implemented to prevent the spread of the virus. We present here a short review on the protective role of BCG in COVID-19.

Keywords: BCG vaccination; Heterologous; Droplet infection; Cytokines and chemokines; Immunity

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