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What if I told you that scar on your left forearm might be part of the reason COVID rates are as low as they are in Africa?
This research thinks so.
Lemme entice you with the INTERESTING history of this vaccine and why so little of it is given in developed nations!
THREAD!
https://twitter.com/kidney_boy/status/1248062642423463936
This research thinks so.Lemme entice you with the INTERESTING history of this vaccine and why so little of it is given in developed nations!
THREAD!
https://twitter.com/kidney_boy/status/1248062642423463936
So, Tuberculosis (TB) is and has always been a serious infection; killing at least 1.5M people in 2018.
In fact, it's the leading cause of death from a single infectious agent (number two is HIV/AIDS) (btw ebu #ChukuaSelfie, from @MyDawaApp ).
In fact, it's the leading cause of death from a single infectious agent (number two is HIV/AIDS) (btw ebu #ChukuaSelfie, from @MyDawaApp ).
The bacteria that causes TB was discovered in 1882 by German homie Robert Koch, whose been christened the Microbiology's 'Big Dzaddy' (no offence to Bensoul 
).
).
Interesting side-note about how he ended up discovering the bacteria.
The organism grows really slowly in the lab so it's said that on the day he was to give up with tryna grow it, it was Easter weekend so he didn't go to work.
Homie comes back Tuesday morning and boom!
The organism grows really slowly in the lab so it's said that on the day he was to give up with tryna grow it, it was Easter weekend so he didn't go to work.
Homie comes back Tuesday morning and boom!
So then in 1900, 2 homies in France; Calmette & Guerin started work on a vaccine; not an easy task!
They used ox bile, potatoes (another great use of waru!
), glycerine (Arimis) etc
21 yrs & many guinea-pigs later, Bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG) was ready for human testing.
They used ox bile, potatoes (another great use of waru!
), glycerine (Arimis) etc21 yrs & many guinea-pigs later, Bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG) was ready for human testing.
So then 1921, 
Paris.
A lady gives birth to a healthy baby but dies of TB hours later. What's more, the baby was going to be raised by Grandma who also had TB.
After consent, the baby is chosen & given the vaccine orally.
Everyone holds their breath! Will it be a success?!!
Paris.A lady gives birth to a healthy baby but dies of TB hours later. What's more, the baby was going to be raised by Grandma who also had TB.
After consent, the baby is chosen & given the vaccine orally.
Everyone holds their breath! Will it be a success?!!
Celebration ensues!
A few years later, the toi develops NO UNDESIRABLE SEQUELAE! The vaccine is ready for mass use!!
A few years later, the toi develops NO UNDESIRABLE SEQUELAE! The vaccine is ready for mass use!!
By 1924, 664 oral vaccinations are carried out. In 4 years, kedu 114,000 tois are vaccinated!
Mpaka a special lab was made to prepare the vaccine & big shot scientist, Guerin, was put in charge.
Everything was awesome!
Mpaka a special lab was made to prepare the vaccine & big shot scientist, Guerin, was put in charge.
Everything was awesome!
Until the 1930 Lubeck Disaster happens & completely shatters confidence in BCG 
!
Here's what happened, yeah...
! Here's what happened, yeah...
At Lubeck Hospital in North Germany, the docs planned to vaccinate newborns.
So kidogo planning, moja-mbili, one-two, they were (get this!) SUPPLIED with the vaccines from the Pasteur Institute in Paris but they (get this!) PREPARED them for administration in their TB lab. ok?
So kidogo planning, moja-mbili, one-two, they were (get this!) SUPPLIED with the vaccines from the Pasteur Institute in Paris but they (get this!) PREPARED them for administration in their TB lab. ok?
So then a month down the line, tois start getting infected with TB.
Out of the 250 vaccinated kids, 135 of them were infected and recovered, but 73 children died!
Everyone lost their mind!
Out of the 250 vaccinated kids, 135 of them were infected and recovered, but 73 children died!
Everyone lost their mind!
Since a vaccine is a weakened/ attenuated version of the causative agent of the disease being vaccinated against, everyone assumed that the TB vaccine had regained activity & that's why the kids got sick.
Calmette & Guerin were UNDER PRESSURE more than that @kahushtheartist song
Calmette & Guerin were UNDER PRESSURE more than that @kahushtheartist song
(Is it really a medical thread without at least one HipHop reference? 
Get UNDER PRESSURE by @kahushtheartist : https://soundcloud.com/kahumburu-mutahi/underpressure?in=kahumburu-mutahi/sets/niko
Get UNDER PRESSURE by @kahushtheartist : https://soundcloud.com/kahumburu-mutahi/underpressure?in=kahumburu-mutahi/sets/niko
OK. Now back to the story!
73 kids died, so the German government set up an inquiry into the tragedy.
20 months later, their report proved that the vaccine had been CONTAMINATED during preparation at the Lubeck Hospital.
BCG was exonerated as the cause of the deaths.
73 kids died, so the German government set up an inquiry into the tragedy.
20 months later, their report proved that the vaccine had been CONTAMINATED during preparation at the Lubeck Hospital.
BCG was exonerated as the cause of the deaths.
In fact, in 1932, the two doctors who had 'caused' the contamination of the BCG were both IMPRISONED for bodily injury due to negligence.
BCG was safe & everyone should get back to using it, right?
BCG was safe & everyone should get back to using it, right?
Wrong.
Unfortunately, this was a case of 'so much, too late.'
In the court of Public Opinion, the vaccine had already been given the death sentence & disapproved of.
Unfortunately, this was a case of 'so much, too late.'
In the court of Public Opinion, the vaccine had already been given the death sentence & disapproved of.
So then in the late 1940's, despite UNICEF & WHO advising BCG use, the US & Netherlands decided against routine BCG use and based their TB control on contact tracing.
As for the rest of the world & Europe, they introduced routine BCG vaccination: at birth, school entry, etc.
As for the rest of the world & Europe, they introduced routine BCG vaccination: at birth, school entry, etc.
...but that wasn't the end of the debate.
In fact, ever since development, BCG had been heavily questioned; with some research showing that it wasn't effective against adult TB, and others saying the efficacy was very minor.
In fact, ever since development, BCG had been heavily questioned; with some research showing that it wasn't effective against adult TB, and others saying the efficacy was very minor.
They had a point; because, for example, despite all Kenyans getting the vaccine at birth, adult TB is still a major problem, y'know?
...but at the same time, considering the huge number of children vaccinated every yr, a small efficacy means LOTS of tois saved. Y'feel me?
...but at the same time, considering the huge number of children vaccinated every yr, a small efficacy means LOTS of tois saved. Y'feel me?
That plus the fact that the vaccine also shows a protective effect against tuberculous meningitis (inflammation of brain covering) in infants. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2082927/
Nevertheless, as TB incidence decreased in more developed nations, many countries in Europe eventually halted the BCG vaccine universal policy, like Spain (1965 - 1981; 16 years) & Denmark (1946 - 1986; 40 years).
Others like the US continued with their 'only high risk' stnd.
Others like the US continued with their 'only high risk' stnd.
So yeah! That's how things stand today in regards to the BCG vaccine.
The awesome people at BCG Atlas have a website (link in next tweet) with an interactive map showing the BCG vaccine policy around the world, but here's a still-shot of the same:
The awesome people at BCG Atlas have a website (link in next tweet) with an interactive map showing the BCG vaccine policy around the world, but here's a still-shot of the same:
One more thing: as to the research on the BCG vaccine being protective against COVID-19, in my opinion, I don't think it's accurate.
Correlation doesn't always equate to causation, PLUS as more testing is done in low-income countries, cases are steadily rising!
Correlation doesn't always equate to causation, PLUS as more testing is done in low-income countries, cases are steadily rising!
Here's a great article written by @LenaFaust1, @SKHuddart, @svadzianita & @emilylmaclean which offers a more in-depth critique of the research: https://naturemicrobiologycommunity.nature.com/channels/2549-coronaviruses-past-present-and-future/posts/64892-universal-bcg-vaccination-and-protection-against-covid-19-critique-of-an-ecological-study
Many, many thanks to @kidney_boy for quote-tweeting the research to my timeline,
to @paimadhu for additional resources,
my lecturer & friend @Docmureithi for teaching me foundational undergrad TB couple'a years/months ago,
& to @DrLittleKenya for giving me a job!
to @paimadhu for additional resources,
my lecturer & friend @Docmureithi for teaching me foundational undergrad TB couple'a years/months ago,
& to @DrLittleKenya for giving me a job
!
mwisho wa uzi!
end of thread!
end of thread!
