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Tuberculin skin reactivity four years after neonatal BCG vaccination
1Chest Clinic, Blackburn Royal Infirmary, Lancashire.
Archives of Disease in Childhood
|April 1, 1992
Insights
Neonatal BCG vaccination provides lasting protection. Most children vaccinated at birth remained tuberculin positive at age 4, confirming the vaccine
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Pediatrics
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Tuberculosis (TB) remains a significant global health challenge.
- Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) is the only licensed TB vaccine.
- Neonatal BCG vaccination is widely administered to prevent severe forms of childhood TB.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the long-term effectiveness of neonatal BCG vaccination.
- To determine the duration of tuberculin positivity following infant BCG immunization.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of children vaccinated with BCG at birth was identified.
- Tuberculin skin testing was performed at 4 years of age.
- The proportion of children remaining tuberculin positive was calculated.
Main Results:
- 93.5% (261 out of 279) of children remained tuberculin positive at age 4.
- This indicates sustained cellular immune response to BCG.
Conclusions:
- Neonatal BCG vaccination demonstrates sustained immunogenicity up to 4 years.
- The findings support the continued effectiveness of early-life BCG immunization in maintaining protective immunity against tuberculosis.
Abstract:
Two hundred and sixty one of 279 (93.5%) children known to be tuberculin positive shortly after receiving their neonatal BCG vaccination were still tuberculin positive at age 4 years. The results confirm the continuing effectiveness of neonatal BCG at 4 years.