BCG Vaccine does not Protect Against COVID-19

Mohamed Farouk Allam, Ghada Essam El-Din Amin

Department of Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Egypt

The Open Respiratory Medicine Journal 2020;14:45-46.

Electronic publication date: 23/10/2020

Publisher Item Identifier (PII): BMS-TORMJ-2020-17

DOI: 10.2174/1874306402014010045 

Abstract

A recent article by Jop de Vrieze (March 23, 2020) suggested that BCG vaccine could protect against COVID-19 infections. The arguments were that several European countries, like Italy, Spain, France, and Germany, which are badly affected by COVID-19, and the USA stopped vaccination of the general population by BCG and excluded it from their routine vaccination schedule. Many people started to receive doses of BCG based on that hypothesis even before its confirmation. We think that the BCG vaccine could not protect against COVID-19 because several countries like China and Iran, which are severely affected by COVID-19, still include the BCG vaccine in its routine vaccination schedule. Other arguments include that the BCG vaccine improves cell-mediated immunity with little effect on humoral immunity; Immunity against viruses, in general, is mainly humoral.

Keywords: Coronavirus, COVID-19, BCG, Vaccine, Review, Immunity.

 

The Open Respiratory Medicine Journal 2020;14:45-46. 

https://benthamopen.com/contents/pdf/TORMJ/TORMJ-14-45.pdf

Vaccination Schedules and COVID-19 Risk

 

Mohamed Farouk Allam, Fady Andraous, Ghada Essam El-Din Amin

Department of Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Egypt

 

The Open Microbiology Journal 2020;14:278-280. 

Electronic publication date: 23/10/2020

Publisher Item Identifier (PII): BMS-TOMICROJ-2020-46

 

Abstract

A significant difference in the number of novel coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) cases and mortality has been noted among different World Health Organization (WHO) regions and countries. We compared the vaccination schedules for 2 countries from WHO Europe Region (Italy and Spain) and 2 countries from WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean (Iran and Egypt). Both Iran and Egypt included the Sabin vaccine as part of the obligatory vaccination programs; meanwhile, Italy and Spain used the Salk vaccine. Recently, Iran and Egypt added a single dose of the Salk vaccine to the 6-7 doses of Sabin vaccine because of the new evidence showing that the use of the Salk vaccine in conjunction with Sabin vaccine achieves better mucosal immunity. Italy and Spain used an acellular vaccine against pertussis. Meanwhile, Iran and Egypt used a whole-cell vaccine. Taking into consideration the lower number of deaths in Iran and Egypt compared to Italy and Spain, we could hypothesize that the whole-cell pertussis vaccine could have a cross-immunity against COVID-19. Further research is warranted to identify the main reasons for the lower number of COVID-19 cases and deaths in certain countries in order to control COVID-19.

Keywords: Coronavirus, COVID-19, Pertussis, BCG, Measles, Vaccine, Review.

The Open Microbiology Journal 2020;14:278-280. 

https://benthamopen.com/contents/pdf/TOMICROJ/TOMICROJ-14-278.pdf

Need for Telehealth in the Era of Covid-19

Need for Telehealth in the Era of Covid-19

 

Sara Ahmed Esmat Shoman (1), Tamer Emara (2), Heba Gamal Saber (3) and Mohamed Farouk Allam (1)

 

1. Department of Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Egypt

2. Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Egypt

3. Department of Geriatrics and Gerontology, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Egypt

 

Biomedical Journal of Scientific & Technical Research 20202;31(3):24303-24305.

DOI: 10.26717/BJSTR.2020.31.005118

ABSTRACT

Telehealth means the usage of telecommunications and virtual technology in facilitating healthcare services in far areas. Telehealth is a multi- phasic system as it serves patients and healthcare workers (HCWs) by providing them with helpful tool for proper healthcare services and giving HCWs the chance to receive training sessions and conducting research. Telehealth proved to be practical in outbreaks and emergency settings as it provides platforms that are easy in usage and accessible for health, education, training, and others. Since the beginning of COVID-19 pandemic, telehealth services have been of great importance in diagnosis, prevention, treatment, and control of corona virus infection. Telehealth application during COVID-19 pandemic appears in screening and triaging the patients according to their symptoms through phone screening, online tools, mobile applications, and virtual visits to evaluate their conditions, and making the appropriate decisions. Also, telehealth is used in contacts tracing to determine whether they are infectious and need to be quarantined. The importance of telehealth extends to include following up of home isolated patients with mild and moderate symptoms to avoid overcrowding of healthcare facilities, in addition to delivering care by a diverse experienced team to provide and adjust treatment plan. Finally, telehealth sustains continuous care by keeping away from negative outcomes that could occur by delaying due to COVID-19.

 

Keywords: Telehealth; Healthcare Services; Virtual care; COVID-19; Remote treatment; Pandemic

 

Biomedical Journal of Scientific & Technical Research 20202;31(3):24303-24305.

https://biomedres.us/pdfs/BJSTR.MS.ID.005118.pdf

Vitamin D level in a sample of Egyptian Females of Childbearing Age Attending a Family Medicine Center

Vitamin D level in a sample of Egyptian Females of Childbearing Age Attending a Family Medicine Center

 

Maivel Emile Soby Gerges, Ghada Essam Aldin Amin, Fady Andraous, Diaa Marzouk Abdel Hamid, Mohamed Farouk Allam

 

Department of Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt

 

The International Journal of Clinical Practice. First published: 29 September 2020

https://doi.org/10.1111/ijcp.13738

 

ABSTRACT

Background. Vitamin D deficiency is now recognized as a pandemic. The normal range of Vitamin D in the Arab countries is much lower than the international standards. Several Arab countries have published studies assessing serum Vitamin D levels among women – to date there is no national study assessing Vitamin D levels among Egyptian women.

Objective. The aim of the study is to measure Vitamin D level among Egyptian women of childbearing age.

Patients and Methods. We included 100 healthy adult females of childbearing age, who were attending a Family Medicine Center in Cairo, Egypt. A validated interview questionnaire was conducted with participants, thereafter BMI and serum 25 (OH) Vitamin D levels were measured.

Results. The age of the included women ranged from 19 years to 49 years old with a mean age of 34 ± 8.47 years. Only 39% of participants were employed and 61% were housewives. 76% of participants were married, 20% unmarried and 4% divorced. Most of participants (82%) wore hijab; only 9% wore niqab and 9% wore no scarf. Only 44% of participants had normal levels of Vitamin D (˃20‐150 ng/ml). 43% of the participants were Vitamin D deficient and 13% were Vitamin D insufficiency.

Conclusion. Vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency are prevalent among Egyptian women of childbearing age. A routine monitoring screening for Vitamin D deficiency and Vitamin D health education are required to minimize risk factors among women of childbearing age.

Keywords: Vitamin D, Deficiency, Egypt, Women, Family Medicine Center.

The International Journal of Clinical Practice. First published: 29 September 2020

 

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/ijcp.13738

Use of Chloroquine or Hydroxychloroquine in Treatment of COVID-19: Is it Ethical?

Use of Chloroquine or Hydroxychloroquine in Treatment of COVID-19: Is it Ethical?

 

Mohamed Farouk Allam, Fady Andraous

Department of Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt

 

Central European Jounral of Public Health 2020; 28 (3): 246-247

 

https://doi.org/10.21101/cejph.a6464

 

To date, the use of chloroquine or hydroxychloroquine in COVID-19 treatment is restricted to clinical trials. The efficacy of chloroquine or hydroxychloroquine in pre- or post-exposure prophylaxis groups is unknown and pending the outcomes of clinical trials.

This raises the following questions: is the current use of chloroquine or hydroxychloroquine, while awaiting RCTs results, ethical? Should the medical community hold off its use while the RCT results pend? Is it ethical to suggest the prophylactic use of chloroquine or hydroxychloroquine for healthcare workers?

 

Keywords: Chloroquine, Hydroxychloroquine, COVID-19, Clinical Trials, Ethics.

 

Central European Jounral of Public Health 2020; 28 (3): 246-247

https://cejph.szu.cz/pdfs/cjp/2020/03/13.pdf