A trial is under way in South Africa to test if the BCG vaccine against tuberculosis is also effective against coronavirus - something unproven at the moment. Some 500 health workers are taking part in the study, which has seen 250 of them given the injection, and another 250 given a placebo. "South Africa does vaccinate all newborns with BCG. The health body said last month that two clinical trials were under way involving BCG, and when completed, their findings would be evaluated by the WHO. Task in South Africa told AFP it planned to extend its BCG trial to up to 3,000 health-care workers in Cape Town, observing participants for at least a year.

Source: The Star May 05, 2020 11:15 UTC