2021 is the centennial year of the first administration of Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG). As the BCG vaccine was developed at the Institut Pasteur de Lille under the direction of Albert Calmette and Camille Guérin, the Institute has decided to celebrate this important anniversary in the form of an international scientific symposium on all aspects of BCG from 17-19 November. As one of a few BCG vaccine manufacturers in the world we are pleased to participate.
BCG is the first, and a century later, still the only licensed vaccine against tuberculosis (TB) in the world. The symposium marks the 100th anniversary of the first administration in 1921 and brings together the most prominent researchers in and relevant to the field of infectious diseases in a combined on-site and virtual setting. The 3-day densely packed programme has been divided into several overall topics listed here:
BCG against tuberculosis and with novel vaccine approaches
The effect of BCG against heterologous infections
BCG and COVID-19
The effect of BCG against cancer
BCG against auto-immune and inflammatory diseases
Several clinical studies are still ongoing to evaluate the potential effect of BCG vaccination on the infection rate with COVID-19 or the clinical outcomes following such infections. The majority of these studies have used the AJV Copenhagen BCG strain. One of the largest studies, called BRACE, is conducted in Australia, the Netherlands, Spain, the UK and Brazil to determine if BCG vaccination reduces the incidence and severity of COVID-19 in 6,800 healthcare workers. The study has just been completed and results are being analysed but were not yet available for the congress.
For more information, please visit: https://www.mcri.edu.au/brace