Coronavirus: Murdochs support crucial vaccine trials to protect health workers

Medical workers have received doses of the BCG vaccine as part of a clinical trial, with the help of Sarah and Lachlan Murdoch.

Sarah and Lachlan Murdoch. Picture: Christian Gilles

Hundreds of medical workers in hospitals across the country have received doses of the BCG vaccine as part of a multi-centre clinical trial targeting the deadly coronavirus pandemic.

The BRACE trial, announced last week, is designed to test whether the vaccine — originally developed to beat tuberculosis, and still given to more than 130 million babies annually — can safeguard healthcare workers ­exposed to SARS-CoV-2 against ­developing severe symptoms.

More than 300 selected medical staff at hospitals, including the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute in Melbourne, have been vaccinated with BCG this week as part of the study, which will eventually extend to 4000 workers nationally.

Sarah and Lachlan Murdoch, who donated $700,000 to the trial, said it was vital to support both the frontline staff tasked with caring for infected patients and those ­trying to develop a vaccine to beat the deadly pathogen.

“Supporting medical research and protecting our healthcare workforce is essential during this pandemic,” Ms Murdoch said.

“Our healthcare workers, scientists and researchers are working around the clock to find the solutions we need so desperately.

“Australia is home to some of the best medical researchers in the world and we are proud to support them at this time when the whole world is looking to science for the answers.”

The Royal Children’s Hospital Foundation, which awarded a $400,000 grant, was among other institutions to support the trial and its development and rollout at the Melbourne Children’s Campus.

The researchers hope that improving the immunity of frontline healthcare workers could offer ­scientists the crucial time required to develop a vaccine that specifically targets COVID-19.

Nigel Curtis, a clinician who heads the MCRI’s Infectious Diseases Research Group, has been given responsibility for overseeing the project.

“The support from Sarah and Lachlan, together with the Royal Children’s Hospital Foundation, was vital to be able to start our trial on Monday,” Professor Curtis said.

“We needed to be ahead of the pandemic curve to be able to protect our frontline staff, and these vital contributions have allowed us to meet that deadline.

“These sorts of trials normally take around eight to 12 months to start but, with the early support of philanthropy, we were able to start within three weeks.

“Since beginning the BRACE trial, we have been inundated with requests from other hospitals wanting to get involved, both in Australia and internationally.”