Status:

COMPLETED

BCG Vaccination to Protect Healthcare Workers Against COVID-19

Lead Sponsor:

Murdoch Childrens Research Institute

Collaborating Sponsors:

Royal Children's Hospital

Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation

Conditions:

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)

Respiratory Illness

Eligibility:

All Genders

18+ years

Phase:

PHASE3

Brief Summary

Phase III, two-group multicentre, randomised controlled trial in up to 10 078 healthcare workers to determine if BCG vaccination reduces the incidence and severity of COVID-19 during the 2020 pandemic...

Detailed Description

Healthcare workers are at the frontline of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. They will be randomised to receive a single dose of BCG vaccine or 0.9% NaCl placebo. Participants will be follo...

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion

  • Over 18 years of age
  • Healthcare worker
  • This is defined as anyone who works in a healthcare setting or has face to face contact with patients.
  • Provide a signed and dated informed consent form
  • Australian sites only: If annual influenza vaccination is available, receiving the flu vaccine is an eligibility requirement. The flu vaccine will be required a minimum of 3 days in advance of randomisation in the BRACE trial.
  • Pre-randomisation blood collected

Exclusion

  • Has any BCG vaccine contraindication
  • Fever or generalised skin infection (where feasible, randomisation can be delayed until cleared)
  • Weakened resistance toward infections due to a disease in/of the immune system
  • Receiving medical treatment that affects the immune response or other immunosuppressive therapy in the last year.
  • These therapies include systemic corticosteroids (≥20 mg for ≥2 weeks), non-biological immunosuppressant (also known as 'DMARDS'), biological agents (such as monoclonal antibodies against tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha).
  • People with congenital cellular immunodeficiencies, including specific deficiencies of the interferon-gamma pathway
  • People with malignancies involving bone marrow or lymphoid systems
  • People with any serious underlying illness (such as malignancy)
  • NB: People with cardiovascular disease, hypertension, diabetes, and/or chronic respiratory disease are eligible if not immunocompromised, and if they meet other eligibility criteria
  • Known or suspected HIV infection,even if they are asymptomatic or have normal immune function.
  • This is because of the risk of disseminated BCG infection
  • People with active skin disease such as eczema, dermatitis or psoriasis at or near the site of vaccination
  • A different adjacent site on the upper arm can be chosen if necessary
  • Pregnant
  • Although there is no evidence that BCG vaccination is harmful during pregnancy, it is a contra-indication to BCG vaccination. Therefore, we will exclude women who think they could be pregnant or are planning to become pregnant within the next month.
  • UK specific: Although there is no evidence that BCG vaccination is harmful during pregnancy, it is a contra-indication to BCG vaccination. Therefore, we will exclude women of childbearing potential (WOCBP) who think they could be pregnant.
  • Spain specific: If the patient is female, and of childbearing potential, she must have a negative pregnancy test at the time of inclusion and practice a reliable method of birth control for 30 days after receiving the BCG vaccination.
  • Another live vaccine administered in the month prior to randomisation
  • Require another live vaccine to be administered within the month following BCG randomisation
  • If the other live vaccine can be given on the same day, this exclusion criteria does not apply
  • Known anaphylactic reaction to any of the ingredients present in the BCG vaccine
  • Previous active TB disease
  • Currently receiving long term (more than 1 month) treatment with isoniazid, rifampicin or quinolone as these antibiotics have activity against Mycobacterium bovis
  • Previous adverse reaction to BCG vaccine (significant local reaction (abscess) or suppurative lymphadenitis)
  • BCG vaccine given within the last year
  • Have previously had a SARS-CoV-2 positive test result (positive PCR on a respiratory sample or a positive SARS-CoV-2 diagnostic antigen test approved by the local jurisdiction's public health policy)
  • Already part of this trial, recruited at a different site/hospital.
  • Participation in another COVID-19 prevention trial
  • Have previously received a COVID-19-specific vaccine

Key Trial Info

Start Date :

March 30 2020

Trial Type :

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation :

ACTUAL

End Date :

May 27 2022

Estimated Enrollment :

6828 Patients enrolled

Trial Details

Trial ID

NCT04327206

Start Date

March 30 2020

End Date

May 27 2022

Last Update

September 19 2024

Active Locations (36)

Enter a location and click search to find clinical trials sorted by distance.

Page 1 of 9 (36 locations)

1

St Vincent's Hospital, Sydney

Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 2010

2

Prince of Wales Hospital

Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 2031

3

Sydney Children's Hospital, Randwick

Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 2145

4

The Children's Hospital at Westmead

Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 2145