Short answer is .. no. In the NEJM on 27th April, Pittet et al, reported a RCT of BCG vaccination, in an attempt to prevent COVID-19.
In addition to protecting against its target disease, tuberculosis, the bacille Calmette–Guérin (BCG) vaccine has immunomodulatory ‘off-target’; effects that may protect against unrelated infections. The BCG vaccine has been associated with reduced risk of death from any cause among infants4 and a reduced risk of respiratory infections among adolescents and adults.
Early in the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic, it was proposed that the BCG vaccine could be repurposed to protect against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).8 It was hypothesised that the immunomodulatory properties of this vaccine might enhance protection against SARS-CoV-2, thus bridging the gap until pathogen-specific vaccines were available
A total of 3988 participants underwent randomisation; recruitment ceased before the planned sample size was reached owing to the availability of Covid-19 vaccines. The modified intention-to-treat population included 84.9% of the participants who underwent randomisation: 1703 in the BCG group and 1683 in the placebo group.
The risk of severe COVID-19 by 6 months was 7.6% in the BCG group and 6.5% in the placebo group. There were five hospitalisations due to COVID-19 in each group (including one death in the placebo group).
Their conclusion was: “vaccination with BCG-Denmark did not result in a lower risk of Covid-19 among health care workers than placebo”.
This again stresses the importance of publishing negative findings.
