Can the tuberculosis vaccine help save coronavirus patients?

More than 145,000 people have died of the disease globally, and some scientists are looking to an old vaccine to fight the new pandemic.

vaccine coronavirus

As scientists rush to find a way to tackle COVID-19, some think an old and widely used vaccine for tuberculosis could be an answer.

The BCG (bacillus Calmette-Guerin) vaccine is still routinely given in many countries, and there’s evidence that it might protect against the novel coronavirus. We speak with Dr Nokawanda Sithole from Tygerberg Hospital in Cape Town, South Africa; Dr Gonzalo Otazu from the New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine; Dr Madhukar Pai from McGill University in Montreal, Canada; and Professor Andreas Diacon, from TASK in Cape Town, South Africa, about the latest research.

For more:

Where does the world stand on a coronavirus vaccine?

Scientists search for effective COVID-19 treatments

Doctor’s Note: Why will it take so long for a COVID-19 vaccine?

The team:

Amy Walters produced this episode with Dina Kesbeh, Priyanka Tilve, Ney Alvarez, Alexandra Locke and Malika Bilal. Alex Roldan is the sound designer. Natalia Aldana is the engagement producer. Stacey Samuel is The Take’s Executive Producer, and Graelyn Brashear is Al Jazeera’s Head of Audio.

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Source: Al Jazeera