Vietnam studies 100-year-old tuberculosis vaccine for novel coronavirus prevention

The Ministry of Health has assigned the Central Lung Hospital to co-operate with some other agencies to pilot the BCG vaccination for medical workers that have had direct contact with COVID-19 patients.

Vietnamese health officials decided to conduct the program after research by a group of the US and Irish experts showed that countries that have a widespread BCG vaccination program had almost six times lower cases than nations that don’t use the vaccine.

This tuberculosis vaccine has been included in the immunization program in Vietnam since 1984. The country has long produced this vaccine. Currently, the vaccine is still being given free for children under 1 year of age.

World Health Organization on April 12 stated that there was no evidence that the Bacille Calmette-Guérin vaccine protects people against infection with the COVID-19 virus.

Two clinical trials addressing this question are underway, and WHO will evaluate the evidence when it is available.

The organization does not recommend BCG vaccination for the prevention of COVID-19.

As of Monday afternoon, Vietnam recorded no new patient, making it four consecutive days Vietnam has recorded no new infections of the deadly virus, according to the Ministry of Health.

Among 268 people tested with the virus, 207 have completely recovered.

Despite encouraging result from containment and treatment, the Vietnamese Government still stay vigilant and focused on the COVID-19 fight as the pandemic is still evolving complicatedly across the globe.

On April 16, the Government announced that it would not ease entry restrictions until April 30 and tasked the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of National Defense and Ministry of Public Security to continue tightening entry control.

The Government shall continue to temporarily halt visa issuance to all foreigners, except for those who are entrants for diplomatic or official purposes, experts, highly skilled workers, international investors.

On April 15, the Government decided to extend social distancing by at least one week in 28 localities, including Ha Noi and Ho Chi Minh City.

►Vietnam records no new infection in 36 hours, tally remains at 268