Possible Correlation between Bacillus Calmette Guérin (BCG) Vaccination Policy and SARS-Cov-2 Transmission, Morbidity and Mortality Rates: Implications for the African Continent

Adesanya Oluwafolajimi Adetoye,Ebengho Ikponmwosa Gabriel

doi:10.23937/2474-3658/1510137

Adesanya Oluwafolajimi Adetoye, Ebengho Ikponmwosa Gabriel

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.23937/2474-3658/1510137

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Abstract

Since its discovery in the Huanan Seafood Market, Hubei province, Wuhan, China, in December 2019, the 2019-novel Coronavirus has evolved rapidly into a global pandemic of devastating proportions. With the most developed health systems of the world struggling to contain the spread, there have been concerns raised about the relatively lower case and mortality figures coming out of the African continent, especially in the earlier days of the outbreak.

Highlights

By May 30, 2020, the ravaging COVID-19 pandemic had spread to 188 countries, infecting 5,945,737 people, causing 365,368 fatalities (CFR = 6.15%) [1], there have been curious variations in its transmission patterns as well as associated morbidity and mortality rates across geographical regions
While most institutions are quick to raise the obvious resource and diagnostic limitations as an explanation for this situation, recently a series of ecological studies have suggested a possible correlation between Bacillus Calmette Guérin (BCG) vaccination policy and COVID-19 transmission and mortality rates, opening a case for an alternative or additional explanation for why Africa as a continent is reacting less violently to the SARS-CoV-2 virus
While these variations have been attributed to differences in cultural norms, health systems and response efforts, recently four epidemiological studies have proposed an alternative explanation using the universal BCG vaccination policies adopted by different countries

Summary

Introduction

With the most developed health systems of the world struggling to contain the spread, there have been concerns raised about the relatively lower case and mortality figures coming out of the African continent, especially in the earlier days of the outbreak. While most institutions are quick to raise the obvious resource and diagnostic limitations as an explanation for this situation, recently a series of ecological studies have suggested a possible correlation between BCG vaccination policy and COVID-19 transmission and mortality rates, opening a case for an alternative or additional explanation for why Africa as a continent is reacting less violently to the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

Results

Conclusion