Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) Study to Help Prevent COVID-19
SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19) is a contagious virus affecting everyone. Researchers at Texas A&M University, in collaboration with MD Anderson Cancer Center, Baylor College Medicine and Cedars Sinai Medical Center, are looking for health care workers, first responders, front line workers, seniors and those with preexisting health conditions to participate in a study evaluating the Bacillus Calmette Guérin (BCG) vaccine as a booster of the immune response and to study if this vaccine reduces illness severity from coronavirus. The study will also examine if BGC will improve efficacy of recent vaccines.
The goal of this trial is to learn if a Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccination, a nearly 100-year-old commonly used tuberculosis (TB) vaccine, can help prevent COVID-19 infection and/or mitigate the severity of the illness compared to a placebo.
Vaccine Trial Eligibility and Consent
To participate, volunteers must be:
- At least 18 years old
- Personnel working at a hospital, medical center or clinic, including medical, veterinary, dental and ophthalmology; first responders such as law enforcement, firefighters or paramedics; front line workers such as a teachers, wait staff, grocery store workers; or high risk individuals such as the elderly and those with preexisting health conditions
- Able to use their own device to provide data electronically (e.g. via smartphone or tablet)
- Able to participate for at least six months
If you would like to participate, consent will be collected electronically and by phone in adherence with current physical distancing practices. Volunteers receive a one-time injection and will submit weekly surveys on an electronic device (e.g. smart phone or tablet) through a secure web portal and monthly home fingerstick blood samples will be procured. Optionally, blood samples will be collected at designated timepoints.