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There has been a lot of talk for quite some time now about the BCG vaccinations and Covid-19. It seems that the countries that have compulsory, across the board BCG vaccinations seem to have less fatalities, relative to their population, than those countries that did not have the vaccination. In an interesting paper issued by the American bank, JPMorgan, they noted the correlation between BCG vaccination and lower case numbers as well as the correlation between warmer more subtropical temperatures and lower rates. There are very interesting reports and although all of this is less than scientific at the moment, there are more and more indications that seem to suggest that there are some truth in these theories.
Of all the emerging nations the only one that did not have the universal BCG vaccination policy was Equador and Equador has more fatalities per million of their population than just about any other emerging country other than Iran. Iran they say has the much colder climate and has a relatively old population compared to other emerging countries.
By way of example they say the average age in Africa is, believe it or not, only 19,7 years old whereas the average age of people living in Europe is 43,1 years old and that to a certain extent explains why we see much higher death rates in Europe than in Africa.
What exactly the correlations are between warmer weather and this particular coronavirus and the BCG vaccination are things that we will only really know in the months and possibly years ahead, but at the moment there are certainly quite a few positive indications in that regard and SA might very well get lucky on all three of those factors – a relatively low average age, nationwide BCG vaccinations and subtropical, warmer temperatures than many of the countries with higher death rates.
Posted by Michael de Broglio on Tuesday 21-Apr-20
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Comments
Daniella said:
on Tuesday 12-May-20 07:05 AM
That's actually really interesting that Africa's average age is 19.7 years old. I really hope that a vaccine is found soon and we can all go back to normal
Ziyanda said:
on Monday 11-May-20 03:44 PM
I think vaccinations do help but we also need to always take care of ourselves, have healthy diets and take vitamins to help your body fight diseases.
cornelie said:
on Monday 11-May-20 10:16 AM
The only worry now is that we are going into winter. Summer time I think the virus will be in sleep mode.
Tersia said:
on Monday 11-May-20 09:49 AM
A lot of research will have to take place before all this can be certain. Each country, I think, needs to go through their change of seasons as well to establish what would happen in the winter months as well and then again in the summer months. I think we are lucky that this all came out in our summer months and that gave us at least some time to be able to prepare for the winter that is coming. Things could have been a lot worse if you think about it, if this had happened in our winter months. Eventually, like all other diseases and sicknesses, they will come up with a vaccine. Something like this can be cured and it will come, hopefully soon.
Bianca Taljaard said:
on Friday 08-May-20 08:25 AM
My family is currently living on vitamins, unfortunately there is come conditions that medication and vitamins can not heal, all we can do is take the right precautions not to make it worse
Prishani said:
on Thursday 07-May-20 12:13 PM
I think a lot more research will need to be done and as this happens I think many links and or similarities will be established.
brumilde said:
on Wednesday 06-May-20 03:20 PM
Any type of immune booster to help your body fight the virus is good it would think. Having a strong and healthy body is the key, yes allot of people have permanent and chronic problems and they should be looked after the most
Helen said:
on Thursday 30-Apr-20 06:56 PM
Very interesting blog and so many fascinating comments.
One article was saying that the Australian trial of vaccination or re vaccination of healthcare workers as a prophylactic measure could help to curb the worst effects of Covid-19 and protect those who are most exposed.
However in South Africa where we have a high rates of tuberculosis and non-tuberculosis mycobaceteria the effect may not be the same, one should be very cautious to simply roll out a revaccination programme for the sake of it and without robust data.
Joyce said:
on Thursday 30-Apr-20 06:20 PM
I think vaccination does work and hope that the three mentioned factors will save SA
Chante said:
on Wednesday 29-Apr-20 02:42 PM
Even though South Africa has three factors which count as advantages, all we can truly do is hope that a vaccine will be discovered to cure and/or stop this horrible virus.
Brenda Strydom said:
on Wednesday 29-Apr-20 09:35 AM
I real hope and pray that everything will go back to normal and everything will be fine again.We need to get the vaccination to help us
Roxanne said:
on Tuesday 28-Apr-20 03:52 AM
I just hope we can find a sensible solution for all, because there are some out there that cant get all the require vaccinations. The Government should really look at how their clinics are run and fix them.
Kathryn said:
on Friday 24-Apr-20 02:03 PM
It has been fascinating to read and follow along as scientists and epidemiologists hypothesize over possible factors which reduce the risk to exposure or fatalities as a result of the virus.
Claudia B said:
on Friday 24-Apr-20 01:45 PM
Let's just hope and pray that everything will go back to normal soon for everyone. Our President is doing what is needed and all need to do is to follow the rules.
Dasanya said:
on Friday 24-Apr-20 09:13 AM
The studies surrounding this virus is very interesting to note especially since we don't know much about this disease and just have to learn as we go along. Warmer temperature have indicated a slower progression of the disease but with South Africa entering winter, we have yet to see the progression rate. We can just hope that everyone observes the necessary precautions.
Melissa said:
on Thursday 23-Apr-20 08:01 AM
All we can do is hope and pray that things will go back to normal. I am really proud of our president that he has taken matters into his owns hands regarding this whole pandemic.
Alexis said:
on Wednesday 22-Apr-20 03:18 PM
We are a number of months behind the world to say the least. One sees the steady increase day by day. Though, I do believe that our President is doing the best that he can, and we can only hope that it is enough.
Mathilda said:
on Wednesday 22-Apr-20 08:04 AM
The warm weather has definitely worked in our favour ,but what will happen with winter approaching ?
I guess we will find out in the coming months.
I just pray that we can all come back to work this end of month.
Zandelee said:
on Tuesday 21-Apr-20 09:58 PM
When you take into consideration these 3 factors it is definitely an advantage to South Africa however we should still not neglect personal hygiene and all the preventative measures implemented to curve the spread of Covid - 19
Prof Greg Hussey, who leads Vaccines for Africa at the University of Cape Town (UCT) is of the opinion that it is highly unlikely that people older than 65 received the BCG vaccine placing millions of elderly people even more at risk.
Nicolle said:
on Tuesday 21-Apr-20 05:49 PM
I suppose we need more information before we know for sure. But, let's hope it is true, this country needs every bit of help it can get.
Sujata said:
on Tuesday 21-Apr-20 05:18 PM
Those factors work to our advantage but we have to bear in mind that those factors does not mean South Africans are not at risk. Best to remain positive on the current progress and careful once lockdown is lifted.
Bronwyn said:
on Tuesday 21-Apr-20 03:49 PM
This would be good for South Africa as I do not think we have all the medical equipment and resources for when the virus actually starts spreading rapidly and the number of cases start to increasing.
Lucretia said:
on Tuesday 21-Apr-20 02:59 PM
Let us hope this is the case because South Arica introduced the BCG vaccine in 1973 and it has been rolled out ever since. Let us hope that post 1994, this vaccination was not stopped in any way to save on money that could be later embezzled because that would be a crying shame.
Bianca Niemann said:
on Tuesday 21-Apr-20 01:46 PM
I think the truth is that our country is not at all ready to tackle this disease should it get to the extent that for example, Europe got it. So I sincerely hope that these 3 factors along with the vaccines do help.
fikile said:
on Tuesday 21-Apr-20 01:23 PM
We all know that vaccination is actually being infected with the virus, it is to see if your immune system can fight the virus or not, if you look at it most people that get the flu vaccination get flu that only means that their immune system is weak. I don't think that this is going to help but what is the worse that can happen. What we can do is hope that this vaccination can help us.
Tamaryn said:
on Tuesday 21-Apr-20 12:35 PM
The average age in Africa is 19.7 ? This may be good when we are looking at the current outbreak, but on whole this shows over population, younger death rates and of course inferior access to adequate health care.
Victoria said:
on Tuesday 21-Apr-20 11:59 AM
I think South Africans are lucky to be living here as the BCG vaccination is a must, which as you said we have those three things which might make us lucky. For South Africa's sake I hope we are lucky by having those three things.
Michelle D said:
on Tuesday 21-Apr-20 11:32 AM
I am intently pro-vaccination and I am very happy that our country is so strict with them. I have been vaccinated against many diseases and I think it is amazing that we can develop vaccines against illnesses which have ravished humans for centuries! I mean although it is hard to believe that the BCG vaccine helps us against Covid-19, although weirder things have happened. The first "vaccine" was against smallpox and it didn't involve smallpox at all! A doctor injected people with Cowpox for which humans are asymptomatic and this was enough to immunize us against smallpox which is fascinating!
Angelique said:
on Tuesday 21-Apr-20 11:14 AM
weird flex but ok.
It is nice to read this as we are often so negative. BCG vaccination has always been a priority in SA but how does a vaccine really protect you from something it was not designed for? there I go being negativ3 again.
Angelique said:
on Tuesday 21-Apr-20 11:11 AM
comment removed
Kayla said:
on Tuesday 21-Apr-20 10:14 AM
I am hoping that this vaccine can be developed and working soon to help all people around the world. If it is to save your life I will definitely take it. Until one is created and working, I pray for the people around the world who are affected and who have lost loved ones due to this virus.
Megan said:
on Tuesday 21-Apr-20 10:07 AM
Interesting to note the average age of Africa, but it does makes sense though. I agree with Karien, injecting yourself with foreign DNA and altering it, is very scary. I've never been a fan or vaccines, I mean I'm skeptical about Bill and Melinda Gates's foundation as they are under investigation for the vaccines given in India to girls, unbeknownst, would sterilize and/or kill them?
melandre said:
on Tuesday 21-Apr-20 10:05 AM
I read an article a while back stating that apparently America patented a vaccine for a virus like COVID-19, I don't know if it was hocus pocus, but it was an interesting read and would create havoc if it were to be the case. Yet again, economy over humanity. However, it would be amazing news if the BCG vaccine did in fact help protect us against the virus, because as of yet here is no absolute proof that the BCG vaccine can protect us against it.
Natasha said:
on Tuesday 21-Apr-20 09:56 AM
Vaccines are the best thing you can do, if the can get a vaccine for Covid-19 it would help a lot. I have been getting my flu vaccine since i was 6 months old i never miss it, I missed it one year and i got really sick. If i dont get my vaccine i get sick all the time and i stay sick so I make sure that i get my flu vaccine as soon as they are out, I get like a minor cold when i get the vaccine but that is nothing comparing to how sick i get when i dont get the vaccine.
I got my flu Vaccine Last week and i just have a bit of a runny nose,but im fine with that.I made sure that my kids get the flu vaccine as well.
If they can get a vaccine for Covid-19 it will be great they must make it a thing that you can get the Covid-19 every year with ur flu vaccine.
It will help a lot.
patrick said:
on Tuesday 21-Apr-20 09:27 AM
One can hope and pray that the three factors mentioned above will help. Reality is that the country is not ready to help its people if were to have infections and deaths similar to countries like America.
Courtney said:
on Tuesday 21-Apr-20 09:17 AM
Best thing is vaccination. I get very sick every year when we received the flu one's but I do"t get sick during the rest of the year, only a week or two after the flu vaccination.
Wish they can get one asap for covid-19!
Lourien said:
on Tuesday 21-Apr-20 09:04 AM
Time will tell, we need to wait and see when they will have a vaccine that can stop the virus, although they say the BCG vaccine can provide protection against disease. The Covid 19 Virus has drastically affected the whole worlds economy and we do hope that this would be something of the past soon.
Karien said:
on Tuesday 21-Apr-20 09:03 AM
This is a very interesting time for virologists and many others working in the medical profession.
I am not against vaccines, but I still believe in the right to choose. Many vaccines have MRC-5 in it, which is DNA. Injecting yourself with foreign DNA alters your own DNA, which to me, is quite scary.
I read on WHO's website that there is no evidence as yet that BCG vaccines protect humans form being infected with Covid-19, but there is conclusive proof that BCG vaccines do protect against meningitis and TB.
I'm sure once more data is available a conclusion can be made if BCG vaccines do indeed protect against Covid-19 or not.
Thabitha said:
on Tuesday 21-Apr-20 08:34 AM
Lets hope more lives will be saved and also more proper training will be helpful, with vaccinations people are more confused than before because you will find those who are saying it is wrong to take vaccination and those who are saying it is right things you will never know what is right or wrong
Nikita said:
on Tuesday 21-Apr-20 08:17 AM
I know a few people that are against vaccinations and say it causes more harm than good. I simply look at my family and cousins etc who all received the vaccines and it was helpful to all of us so becoming a mom myself soon I will also trust in vaccinations. Considering all the odds against us in this country it is also nice to have some odds in our favour.
Kendall said:
on Tuesday 21-Apr-20 08:17 AM
It will be interesting to see in the months and years ahead as to how Africa has reacted to this virus as opposed to other countries. There is a lot of factors that could play a role and it seems the BCG vaccination could definitely be one of them.
Although I am not a believer in the flu vaccination,I do hope that a vaccine against COVID-19 can be developed soon. Currently, anything is worth a shot to try and curb the spread of this terrible virus.
Nicolene said:
on Tuesday 21-Apr-20 08:15 AM
I really do hope those three factors mentioned will have a positive effect in South Africa. Chinese people are extremely clever people. I personally still think that this virus was released from a lab, but we will know the truth in the years ahead.
david said:
on Tuesday 21-Apr-20 07:34 AM
could it not be that with all the filth & disease in africa, her people have to be quite tough to survive?
Michelle Smillie said:
on Tuesday 21-Apr-20 07:24 AM
I've been a fence-sitter for a while on whether vaccinations are good or not. The reason being that our son was incredibly sick every time after a vaccination, and when the vaccinations stopped, everything stopped. His eczema cleared, his ears stopped giving issues, he even stopped complaining of random body aches and pains. I always continued to give him the vaccinations, but was just wondering whether they really are helpful or not. I can't speak of the flu vaccine either, because both my son and I have chronic sinusitis and always have a blocked nose and slight cough that causes us to not qualify for getting a flu vaccine.
But, during this pandemic and seeing the results backing the BCG vaccination, my mind is being swayed. My husband also got his first flu vaccine last year and did not get sick, which he yearly does, so it seems there are in fact merit behind vaccinations. I'm wondering how the anti-vax people are coping though, and whether their minds will be swayed so easily. Perhaps having compulsory vaccinations are not such a bad thing.
sandra said:
on Tuesday 21-Apr-20 07:16 AM
Newborn BCG vaccinations may improve general protection against certain respiratory infections by the mechanism of “trained immunity” BCG vaccine can provide protection against diseases that it doesn’t specifically target.
Johannesburg based attorney specializing in personal injury matters including Road Accident Fund claims and medical negligence matters. My interests include golf, reading and the internet and the way it is constantly developing. I have a passion for life and a desire for less stress!
