BCG and COVID-19 : correlation or causality or neither?

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Authors

Chiba, Manoj Dayal
Verachia, Abdullah

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

Emerald

Abstract

LEARNING OUTCOMES: The learning outcome is to understand the difference between correlation and causation. CASE OVERVIEW/SYNOPSIS: The case is set during the period of the COVID-19 pandemic, globally a search for effective treatments were underway. An initial forerunner that was being considered was Bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG), given its effectiveness in the treatment of tuberculosis and other pulmonary-related infections. While there were a lack of randomised controlled trials, initial data from publicly related secondary data sources indicated that, in countries with BCG inoculation policies, the severity of the spread and mortality of COVID-19 was muted. The case is centered around the available information on BCG and COVID-19. COMPLEXITY ACADEMIC LEVEL : Post-graduate students learning statistics as part of a degree programme. The case assumes no prior statistics knowledge and therefore is aimed at teaching the difference between correlation and causation.

Description

Disclaimer. This case is written solely for educational purposes and is not intended to represent successful or unsuccessful managerial decision-making. The authors may have disguised names; financial and other recognizable information to protect confidentiality.

Keywords

Management science, Operations research, Management education, Executive education, Management theory, Case study

Sustainable Development Goals

Citation

Chiba, M.D. and Verachia, A. (2021), "BCG and COVID-19: correlation or causality or neither?", Emerald Emerging Markets Case Studies, Vol. 11 No. 1. https://doi.org/10.1108/EEMCS-05-2020-0166.