Could the BCG vaccine for TB explain India's extremely low COVID-19 death rate?

[MarathonMike]

If you compare India's infection rates and deaths to other large countries, they are incredibly low. 0.6 deaths per million! It can't all be explained away with early lock down because there were too many Chinese travelers to too many parts of India. There would have been a big outbreak somewhere. But there wasn't. We need to look at everything and widespread use of the BCG vaccine in India for decades could be the reason.

US scientists link BCG vaccination with fewer coronavirus cases, Indian scientists hopeful but cautious

"We found that countries without universal policies of BCG vaccination, such as Italy, the Netherlands, and the United States, have been more severely affected compared to countries with universal and long-standing BCG policies," noted the researchers led by Gonzalo Otazu, assistant professor of...

economictimes.indiatimes.com

 

[skye]

Yes it could. For all I am reading it proves scientifically that in India, that it is exactly the case.

 

[Asclepias]

Talked to a guy in India today about this very thing. My only pause is that TB is caused by a bacteria and not a virus.

 

[Aletheia4u]

India climate: average weather, temperature, rain - Climates to Travel

Climate information for India. Prevailing weather conditions, with data in Celsius and Fahrenheit, millimeters and inches. With tips on the best time to visit and what to pack in the suitcase

www.climatestotravel.com

 

[skye]

I'm also reading that in Africa...where they have to treat Malaria with the drug Hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine ....they have also a very low covid 19 deaths.

So...now we know~

 

[Aletheia4u]

I know a Nigerian that he said that hydroxychloroquine is commonly use in India.

More than 29 million hydroxychloroquine doses bought by U.S. have come from India, says President Trump

Last week Mr. Trump said he has sought help from PM Modi to allow the sale of hydroxychloroquine tablets ordered by the US, hours after India banned the export of the anti-malarial drug.

www.thehindu.com

Why the world is hungry for a drug made in India – DW – 04/09/2020

Hydroxychloroquine is an anti-malarial drug produced mostly in India, and pushed by US President Trump as a COVID-19 treatment, despite limited clinical evidence it is effective. Now other countries have joined the hype.

www.dw.com

 

[WEATHER53]

India is very packed tight. But no result near NYC?

 

[Polishprince]

If you compare India's infection rates and deaths to other large countries, they are incredibly low. 0.6 deaths per million! It can't all be explained away with early lock down because there were too many Chinese travelers to too many parts of India. There would have been a big outbreak somewhere. But there wasn't. We need to look at everything and widespread use of the BCG vaccine in India for decades could be the reason.

US scientists link BCG vaccination with fewer coronavirus cases, Indian scientists hopeful but cautious

"We found that countries without universal policies of BCG vaccination, such as Italy, the Netherlands, and the United States, have been more severely affected compared to countries with universal and long-standing BCG policies," noted the researchers led by Gonzalo Otazu, assistant professor of...

economictimes.indiatimes.com

If the Tremendous Nation of India has a high prevalence of malaria, perhaps they have a high percentage of people who are taking hydroxychloroquine, the Trump Treatment, already.

And even though they are taking it for something else, it still defeats the Chinese Kung Flu?

 

[Muhammed]

Over a month ago India officially recommended hydroxychloroquine for prophylaxis to all healthcare professionals involved in treating any suspected or confirmed COVID-19 patients and all household contacts of COVID-19 patients.

The USA should also be doing this. And Trump should sign an executive order making hydroxychloroquine available OTC. Even send out HCQ via US mail to anyone who requests it in states that are restricting access to HCQ.