Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 17, 2026
Protective Efficacy and Pulmonary Immune Response Following Subcutaneous and Intranasal BCG Administration in Mice
Published on: September 19, 2016
European survey of BCG vaccination policies and surveillance in children, 2005
A Infuso1, D Falzon1, On Behalf Of The Euro-Tb Network2
1EuroTB, Institut de Veille Sanitaire, Saint Maurice, France.
Insights
BCG vaccination policies vary widely across Europe, with inconsistent recommendations and coverage. Monitoring BCG status and discontinuing revaccination are recommended for improved public health strategies.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Immunology
- Public Health
Background:
- BCG vaccination is a key tool for preventing tuberculosis (TB) in children.
- European countries exhibit diverse BCG vaccination strategies, necessitating a review of current practices.
Purpose of the Study:
- To survey current BCG vaccination policies and practices across European countries.
- To identify variations in BCG recommendations, coverage, and adverse event reporting.
- To inform the development of harmonized vaccine strategies by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC).
Main Methods:
- A 2005 survey collected data on BCG vaccination recommendations and practices from 25 EU countries and associated nations.
- Data included national recommendations, target age groups, risk-based approaches, revaccination practices, and BCG coverage rates.
- Information on TB cases in vaccinated children and BCG-related disseminated infections was also gathered.
Main Results:
- BCG vaccination was recommended nationally in 12 countries, for older children in five, and for at-risk groups in 10 countries; seven countries did not use BCG systematically.
- Universal vaccination programs achieved high BCG coverage (83.0%–99.8%).
- TB cases were frequently observed in vaccinated children (30%–98% in some countries), while disseminated BCG infection was rare (0–1/100,000).
Conclusions:
- Significant variations in BCG vaccination recommendations exist across Europe, with many countries considering policy revisions.
- Routine collection of BCG status and eligibility through TB case notifications is crucial for monitoring.
- Discontinuation of BCG revaccination is advised due to a lack of evidence supporting its efficacy.
Abstract:
In 2005, all 25 EU countries, as well as Andorra, Bulgaria, Norway, Romania and Switzerland, participated in a survey on BCG vaccination in children. BCG was recommended nationally for children under 12 months in 12 countries, in older children in five countries and in children at risk (from origin, contact or travel) in 10 countries. Seven countries did not use BCG systematically. Revaccination was practised in four countries. In countries with universal vaccination, BCG coverage was high (83.0% to 99.8%). TB cases commonly occurred in vaccinated children (at least 30%-98% in five countries using universal or high-risk approach). Disseminated infection due to BCG was rarely reported in recent years (0-1/100 000 vaccinated). There is a wide variation among BCG recommendations in Europe, and nearly half the countries surveyed were considering revisions, at a time when the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) is advocating for harmonised vaccine strategies. Data on monitoring of BCG coverage in target groups is important but often lacking in Europe. Information on BCG status and eligibility should be collected routinely through TB case notification. The incidence of severe adverse effects of BCG in children should be monitored. Given lack of evidence to its efficacy, revaccination should be discontinued.
More Related Videos
06:26Author Spotlight: Optimizing CFU Determination for Efficient Assessment of TB Vaccine Efficacy and Antigen Presentation Analysis
Published on: July 28, 2023
08:10A Functional Whole Blood Assay to Measure Viability of Mycobacteria, using Reporter-Gene Tagged BCG or M.Tb BCG lux/M.Tb lux
Published on: September 14, 2011
Related Concept Videos
01:51Vaccinations
01:26Principles of Disease Surveillance
01:19Pharmacovigilance
This process, termed pharmacovigilance, aims to detect, evaluate, and minimize harmful effects related to medication use. The data collection for pharmacovigilance depends on spontaneous reporting systems, where healthcare professionals or patients voluntarily report suspected ADRs.
In some cases, there...
01:23Types of Biopharmaceutical Studies: Controlled and Non-Controlled Approaches
Non-controlled studies, commonly employed for initial exploration, lack a control group, rendering them susceptible to biases and external influences. In contrast,...
01:29Microorganisms in Medicine and Therapeutics
01:30Cancer Vaccines
Cancer vaccines come in two categories: preventive (prophylactic) and treatment (active). Preventive vaccines, such as the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, protect against viruses that cause certain...