BCG vaccine in Korea.

Area of Science:

• Immunology
• Microbiology
• Public Health

Background:

• The Bacille de Calmette et Guérin (BCG) vaccine, a key anti-tuberculosis tool, has a long history of development and global adoption.
• Tuberculosis became endemic in Korea post-Korean War, necessitating vaccine availability.
• Domestic BCG vaccine production in Korea began in 1960, with manufacturing later transferred to the Korean Institute of Tuberculosis (KIT).

Purpose of the Study:

• To detail the history of BCG vaccine production in Korea.
• To highlight the suspension of domestic BCG manufacturing since 2006 and reliance on imports.
• To announce the plan for KIT to resume BCG vaccine production under Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) supervision.

Main Methods:

• Historical review of BCG vaccine development and adoption.
• Analysis of BCG vaccine manufacturing history in Korea, including key institutions like NDRI and KIT.
• Examination of the transition from domestic production to importation and the current plan for re-establishment.

Main Results:

• BCG vaccine strains exhibit varying virulence levels.
• Korea established domestic BCG production in 1960, with KIT taking over manufacturing in 1987.
• Domestic production ceased in 2006, leading to full reliance on imported BCG vaccines.

Conclusions:

• Resuming domestic BCG vaccine production by KIT is critical for the National Tuberculosis Control Program (NTP) in Korea.
• This initiative represents a significant step towards ensuring vaccine security and self-sufficiency.
• The re-establishment of BCG manufacturing may pave the way for future tuberculosis vaccine research and development in Korea.