The BCG tuberculosis vaccine may give older people some protection against COVID-19, Indian group of researchers noted.

In the course of the study, the results of which were published in the journal Science Advances, experts vaccinated 82 volunteers aged 60 to 80 years with BCG and studied blood samples taken a month later. In the samples, the scientists noticed a decrease in a number of cytokines that were associated with inflammation: IL-6, type 1 interferons, interleukin-2 (IL-2), and TNF-alpha GM-CSF.

There were also lower levels of some chemokines after vaccination, such as matrix metalloproteinases and acute phase proteins, both of which were also associated with the development of inflammation.

Scientists note that many of the cytokines, the level of which decreased in those vaccinated, contribute to the more severe course of COVID-19, which indicates the possible effectiveness of BCG as a means of preventing complications from coronavirus.

The tuberculosis vaccine could even be used as a temporary measure for older people awaiting vaccination against the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, scientists said.