BCG (the TB inoculation) could be an answer
Most of us were inoculated against TB at birth - the BCG shot gave us a very mild and modified version of tuberculosis which our immune systems cured pretty promptly, leaving us with up to 15 years of protection.In some countries TB remains a recurring problem and booster shots are required to top up that immunity. Africa, very much so, where it remains the leading cause of death. Countries like India, China, Portugal, Greenland, have higher incidences of it. Because BCG is a deliberate infection, it carries a slight risk in itself and also quite a painful jab to have, so since the 70s most countries have chosen only the birth shot, to protect children. The US, at very low risk of TB, chose a good while back to not inoculate at all.
The WHO is currently investigating the link between inoculation and the spread of the virus. It looks as though BCG - an inoculation which is cheap, plentiful and has been in use for 100 years - may be a key player in this war. Look at their TB map compared to the virus map I downloaded yesterday. You can see why they'd be interested.
Fingers crossed.
Comments (53)
It definitely affects some people more than others.
Plus, no relatively rich country should allow any of its citizens to be on the breadline as a result of this, if ever.
Agreed but with a billion+ people in varying degrees of lockdown the world over, some won't be as lucky. Many of the poorest are in countries where there don't seem to be many cases, just to add to their frustration. So for their sakes at least, let's hope those TB jabs are finally seen to be offering them enough protection that they can start earning again.
Bedtime for me, night all
You've made my Tuesday
However at the moment i buy the second hand books from Amazon as my niece picks them up at my gate when i have read them and takes them to my brother. He is not on internet at all. Anything i cooked for him too he gets. He is a recluse so i used to walk over twice a week with stuff he needed books cooking etc.
I await a vaccination too i had heard about the TB vaccination saying if you had it maybe virus symptoms would not be so bad. As long as countries pool their knowledge at this time. We should come up with something we do have some very special intelligence behind the scene.
Stay safe viv
Glad you have family so close even if you can't visit with them at the moment. My daughter has got me onto Zoom and we've had a couple of long chats on that, she plays quizzes with friends in group chats and reckons it is nearly as good as being there, PLUS no drive home afterwards
Yeah the hope with the TB vaccination is that while it may not stop you getting it, it has in the past really reduced the effects of lung infections and as the countries with TB (and therefore with many inoculated against it) really do seem to be coping better with the virus, it sounds hopeful. Lots of pharmaceutical companies rushing to offer their lucrative cancer treatments etc as cures but for me not getting it at all would definitely be preferable.
You stay safe too. I'm off to the farmacia to queue for masks, apparently stocks are to be delivered everywhere by latest end of week. I'll be wearing one of the makeshift ones I have on in my profile pic for the queue
When you come back from the quack you can tell us what's happening in the outside world.