BCG Vaccination for Healthcare Workers in COVID-19 Pandemic

A novel betacoronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, is spreading rapidly throughout the world. A large epidemic in South Africa may overwhelm available hospital capacity and healthcare resources which would be worsened by absenteeism of healthcare workers and other frontline staff (HCW). Strategies to prevent morbidity and mortality of HCW are desperately needed to safeguard continuous patient care. Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) is a vaccine against tuberculosis (TB), with protective non-specific effects against other respiratory tract infections in in vitro and in vivo studies, with reported morbidity and mortality reductions as high as 70%. We hypothesize that a BCG vaccination may reduce the morbidity and mortality of healthcare workers during the COVID-19 outbreak in South Africa.

Morbidity and mortality attributable to COVID-19 is devastating global health systems and economies. Bacillus Calmette Guérin (BCG) vaccination has been in use for many decades to prevent severe forms of tuberculosis in children. Studies have also shown a combination of improved long-term innate or trained immunity (through epigenetic reprogramming of myeloid cells) and adaptive responses after BCG vaccination, which leads to non-specific protective effects in adults. Observational studies have shown that countries with routine BCG vaccination programs have significantly less reported cases and deaths of COVID-19, but such studies are prone to significant bias and need confirmation. To date, in the absence of direct evidence, WHO does not recommend BCG for the prevention of COVID-19.

This project aims to investigate in a timely manner whether and why BCG-revaccination can reduce infection rate and/or disease severity in health care workers during the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak in South Africa. These objectives will be achieved with a blinded, randomised controlled trial of BCG revaccination versus placebo in exposed front-line staff in hospitals in Cape Town. Observations will include the rate of infection with COVID-19 as well as the occurrence of mild, moderate or severe ambulatory respiratory tract infections, hospitalisation, need for oxygen, mechanical ventilation or death. HIV-positive individuals will be excluded. Safety of the vaccines will be monitored. A secondary endpoint is the occurrence of latent or active tuberculosis. Initial sample size and follow-up duration is at least 500 workers and 52 weeks. Statistical analysis will be model-based and ongoing in real time with frequent interim analyses and optional increases of both sample size or observation time, based on the unforeseeable trajectory of the South African COVID-19 epidemic, available funds and recommendations of an independent data and safety monitoring board.

Given the immediate threat of the SARS-CoV-2 epidemic the trial has been designed as a pragmatic study with highly feasible endpoints that can be continuously measured. This allows for the most rapid identification of a beneficial outcome that would lead to immediate dissemination of the results, vaccination of the control group and outreach to the health authorities to consider BCG vaccination for all qualifying health care workers.

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

* Men and women aged ≥18 years
* HCW or other frontline staff currently in contact with, or anticipated to be in contact with, patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection.
* Ability and willingness to provide informed consent.
* Can be reached by mobile phone for follow-up

Exclusion Criteria:

* Known allergy to (components of) the BCG vaccine or serious reaction to prior BCG administration.
* Known active tuberculosis or any other active or uncontrolled condition that, in the opinion of the investigator or designee, makes participation unsafe or makes it difficult to collect follow-up data over the study period.
* HIV-1 infection

  - NOTE: If evidence of recent HIV negative test is not available, rapid point-of-care testing will be undertaken as part of screening with a separate informed consent process.
* Symptoms of respiratory tract infection which, in the opinion of the investigator or designee, is likely to interfere with the objectives of the study.
* Known medical history of any of the following immunocompromised states:

  * Neutropenia (less than 500 neutrophils/mm3)
  * Lymphopenia (less than 400 lymphocytes/mm3)
  * Solid organ or bone marrow transplantation
  * Primary immunodeficiency
  * Active solid or non-solid malignancy or lymphoma within the prior two years
  * Pregnancy and breastfeeding
* Current treatment with the following medications:

  * Chemotherapy
  * Anti-cytokine therapies
  * Current treatment with oral or intravenous steroids defined as daily doses of 10mg prednisone or equivalent for longer than 3 months
  * Any experimental, unproven treatment against SARS-CoV-2 infection or COVID-19 including but not limited to chloroquine, hydroxychloroquine, remdesivir, lopinavir/ritonavir and interferon beta-1a.