COVID-19 is the abbreviated name for coronavirus disease 2019, a respiratory disease caused by a novel coronavirus strain called SARS-CoV-2. COVID-19 was first detected in Wuhan City, China and the outbreak was declared a pandemic on March 11, 2020 by the World Health Organization.
Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccination (typically given at birth and/or during childhood) was intended to target tuberculosis caused by the bacteria Mycobacterium tuberculosis and has been reported to also protect against various other infectious diseases. BCG vaccine is under investigation for benefits against SARS-CoV-2. The WHO stated that there is no evidence that BCG protectionprotects people from coronavirus infection.