Global BCG Vaccination Coverage versus Cases and Mortality in the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic

Background: We examined if BCG vaccination policies adopted by different countries might influence the SARS-CoV-2 transmission patterns and associated morbidity and mortality through the vaccine’s capacity to confer heterologous protection.

Method: The focus of this study was on the initial impact of SARS-CoV-2 as on March 23, 2020. We compared the number of cases per million and deaths per million of population of 20 countries with a national BCG immunization program and 20 of those that did not have or have ceased their national BCG vaccination programs.

Results: The Mann Whitney U-tests was significant (p<.001) for both the number of cases and for number of death per capita. Countries with BCG vaccine coverage had significantly less cases and significantly lower mortality.

Discussion and Conclusion: Until a specific vaccine for SARS-CoV-2 is developed, vulnerable populations could be immunized with BCG vaccines to attain heterologous nonspecific protection from the new coronavirus. The choice of the best vaccine strain is important.

Keywords: SARS CoV-2, covid19, BCG immunization, mortality.