Is there a vaccine for Coronavirus?

As it has been fewer than three months since a novel coronavirus (COVID-19) emerged in Wuhan, China that causes coughing, fever and, in severe cases, pneumonia, there is currently no vaccine to prevent COVID-19. There is no specific antiviral treatment recommended for COVID-19. People with COVID-19 should receive supportive care to help relieve symptoms. For severe cases, treatment should include care to support vital organ functions. The best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to this virus.

What makes this virus scary enough to cause the world run on face masks and lead countries to lock down whole megacities and ban travelers is not that it is super deadly. So far, the WHO estimates Covid-19’s fatality rate to be about 3.4 percent worldwide, which is still lower than other coronavirus outbreaks like MERS and SARS. And it is highly contagious. Still, a majority of people infected by Covid-19 will recover in a week or two, without the need for hospitalization.

People who think they may have been exposed to COVID-19 should seek medical advice immediately.

Would BCG vaccination be protective against COVID 19?

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)  is studying the efficacy of the BCG vaccine in preventing Covid-19.

The possible effects of the BCG vaccine in boosting anti-viral immunity have been the subject of recent debate,  as some research studies have been pointing to higher fatalities in some European nations that have discontinued BCG vaccination.