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[Should France continue to use BCG?].
1Département des maladies infectieuses, Institut de veille sanitaire, 12, rue du Val d'Osne, 94415 Saint-Maurice. d.levybruhl@invs.sante.fr
La Revue Du Praticien
|June 5, 2004
Summary
France discontinued routine BCG revaccination and tuberculin testing for children due to decreased tuberculosis incidence. This decision, based on national data, supports BCG
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
- Vaccinology
Context:
- Declining tuberculosis (TB) incidence in France necessitated a review of the national BCG vaccination policy.
- The National Institute for Public Health Surveillance (InVS) synthesized available data on BCG vaccination effectiveness and policy outcomes.
Purpose:
- To reassess the justification for the current French BCG vaccination policy, specifically regarding revaccination of children.
- To evaluate the impact of discontinuing BCG revaccination and routine tuberculin testing.
Summary:
- Data synthesis concluded that revaccinating children with a negative tuberculin skin test is no longer justified.
- Evidence from international studies and experiences supports BCG vaccination's effectiveness in preventing childhood tuberculosis, particularly extrapulmonary cases.
- France has decided to discontinue the policy of BCG revaccination and routine tuberculin testing.
Impact:
- This policy shift aims to optimize public health resources while maintaining protection against childhood tuberculosis.
- Ongoing multidisciplinary expertise will explore options for refining the target population for primary BCG vaccination (primovaccination).