The Medcram guy talked about this in Update #43



The video provides some explanation of the difference between "innate" and "specific" immunity.

BCG discussion starts at 12:40
He references the Science Mag article

It appears that routine vaccination for tuberculosis is not recommended in the US and that the current recommendation is that you should only be vaccinated for tuberculosis if you live in an area where the likelihood of exposure is very high and only in consultation with an expert on TB.

Apparently, it isn't even shown to work against TB for people over the age of 35.

So if we ask for a TB vaccination, it doesn't sound like we're going to get one.

By the way, they are testing (or preparing to test) the VPM1002 vaccine (replaces the BCG test in the article) in Germany to see if it is effective at reducing the worst outcomes of coronavirus.

I had TB and was treated as a child. I have the antibodies I assume. Does that do the same thing as vaccinated?

eric76 said:

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It appears that routine vaccination for tuberculosis is not recommended in the US and that the current recommendation is that you should only be vaccinated for tuberculosis if you live in an area where the likelihood of exposure is very high and only in consultation with an expert on TB.

Apparently, it isn't even shown to work against TB for people over the age of 35.

So if we ask for a TB vaccination, it doesn't sound like we're going to get one.

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Interesting thing about BCG is that South Korea is the only country in the developed world that routinely administers BCG. For some reason, they still have a high rate of TB. They've also been the best at "flattening the curve."

Since South Koreans are getting sick, maybe it's not 100% effective. However, it may offer some protection. Something is better than nothing for the front line workers.

A couple of weeks ago, a German company that started a Phase III trial for a BCG-based vaccine was allowed to add COVID-19 efficacy into its trial. Maybe that vaccine will have better results against COVID-19.

I thought to clear TB you had to undergo some rough treatment?

My mom has TB but has never bothered getting it treated because its "inactive" and the treatment was going to be rough for her.

Snap E Tom said:

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eric76 said:

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It appears that routine vaccination for tuberculosis is not recommended in the US and that the current recommendation is that you should only be vaccinated for tuberculosis if you live in an area where the likelihood of exposure is very high and only in consultation with an expert on TB.

Apparently, it isn't even shown to work against TB for people over the age of 35.

So if we ask for a TB vaccination, it doesn't sound like we're going to get one.

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Interesting thing about BCG is that South Korea is the only country in the developed world that routinely administers BCG. For some reason, they still have a high rate of TB. They've also been the best at "flattening the curve."

Since South Koreans are getting sick, maybe it's not 100% effective. However, it may offer some protection. Something is better than nothing for the front line workers.

A couple of weeks ago, a German company that started a Phase III trial for a BCG-based vaccine was allowed to add COVID-19 efficacy into its trial. Maybe that vaccine will have better results against COVID-19.

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That's the VPM1002 vaccine which is based on the BCG.

I don't think that it is thought that it will keep you from getting covid-19, but that it will be likely to reduce the virus load and the lung damage.

The same drug is used to treat bladder cancer.

Very interesting. On the BCG wiki page, it indicates that this vaccine is mandated in places who are ahead of the curve like South Korea, Taiwan, India, former Soviet Union, and then never done in Italy. Lines up with numbers of cases. Both my parents and my fianc were vaccinated with BCG as kids, I'm super curious what further testing will show.

Snap E Tom said:

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eric76 said:

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It appears that routine vaccination for tuberculosis is not recommended in the US and that the current recommendation is that you should only be vaccinated for tuberculosis if you live in an area where the likelihood of exposure is very high and only in consultation with an expert on TB.

Apparently, it isn't even shown to work against TB for people over the age of 35.

So if we ask for a TB vaccination, it doesn't sound like we're going to get one.

---

Interesting thing about BCG is that South Korea is the only country in the developed world that routinely administers BCG. For some reason, they still have a high rate of TB. They've also been the best at "flattening the curve."

Since South Koreans are getting sick, maybe it's not 100% effective. However, it may offer some protection. Something is better than nothing for the front line workers.

A couple of weeks ago, a German company that started a Phase III trial for a BCG-based vaccine was allowed to add COVID-19 efficacy into its trial. Maybe that vaccine will have better results against COVID-19.

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You're postulating that part of SK's low incidence may be due to the fact they vaccinate a significant chunk of their population with BCG?

Do you have a link supporting the SK part of the post?

The fascinating thing is that azithromycin, the A of HAZ, is used to treat TB and other acid fast bacterias also.

Yup, born in Taiwan here. I have the "fob mark". Looks like I'm immune!

I read something about Mexico routinely vaccinating kids for TB. Do you suppose that illegal aliens here in the US may be likely to fare better in the pandemic than US citizens?

DTP02 said:

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Snap E Tom said:

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eric76 said:

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It appears that routine vaccination for tuberculosis is not recommended in the US and that the current recommendation is that you should only be vaccinated for tuberculosis if you live in an area where the likelihood of exposure is very high and only in consultation with an expert on TB.

Apparently, it isn't even shown to work against TB for people over the age of 35.

So if we ask for a TB vaccination, it doesn't sound like we're going to get one.

---

Interesting thing about BCG is that South Korea is the only country in the developed world that routinely administers BCG. For some reason, they still have a high rate of TB. They've also been the best at "flattening the curve."

Since South Koreans are getting sick, maybe it's not 100% effective. However, it may offer some protection. Something is better than nothing for the front line workers.

A couple of weeks ago, a German company that started a Phase III trial for a BCG-based vaccine was allowed to add COVID-19 efficacy into its trial. Maybe that vaccine will have better results against COVID-19.

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You're postulating that part of SK's low incidence may be due to the fact they vaccinate a significant chunk of their population with BCG?

Do you have a link supporting the SK part of the post?

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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BCG_vaccine

Quote:

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• South Korea, Singapore, Taiwan and Malaysia. In these countries, BCG was given at birth and again at age 12. In Malaysia and Singapore from 2001, this policy was changed to once only at birth. South Korea stopped re-vaccination in 2008.

• Italy: BCG mass vaccination has never been performed in Italy. [url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BCG_vaccine#cite_note-:0-37][37][/url]

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flintdragon said:

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Yup, born in Taiwan here. I have the "fob mark". Looks like I'm immune!

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I've heard the FOB mark refer to smallpox.

https://vaxopedia.org/2018/09/03/recognizing-old-vaccine-scars/

I (HK born) have a smallpox scar, but I can't really identify the BCG scar. According to wikipedia I should have had BCG. There's a small area under my smallpox scar that *could* be BCG, but it's hard to tell.

Thanks. That is a very interesting connection and could be promising.

I remember having a TB skin test as a kid -- they tested everyone in the school, I think. I don't remember having a TB vaccination.

Snap E Tom said:

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flintdragon said:

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Yup, born in Taiwan here. I have the "fob mark". Looks like I'm immune!

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I've heard the FOB mark refer to smallpox.

https://vaxopedia.org/2018/09/03/recognizing-old-vaccine-scars/

I (HK born) have a smallpox scar, but I can't really identify the BCG scar. According to wikipedia I should have had BCG. There's a small area under my smallpox scar that *could* be BCG, but it's hard to tell.

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Different sites have differing pictures. Hard to tell IMO. I have scars on both shoulders, maybe one is BCG and the other is smallpox.