BCG vaccine: WHO position paper, February 2018 - Recommendations

Area of Science:

• Immunology
• Public Health
• Vaccinology

Background:

• The World Health Organization (WHO) issues updated position papers on vaccines to guide Member States.
• Previous WHO guidelines on Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine were from 2004 and 2007.
• The 2018 position paper addresses recent advancements in tuberculosis (TB) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) research.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present the WHO's updated recommendations for the use of the BCG vaccine.
• To provide revised guidance on BCG immunization for infants at risk of HIV infection.
• To include recommendations for leprosy prevention.

Main Methods:

• The article is an excerpt from the WHO's "BCG vaccines: WHO position paper - February 2018."
• It incorporates evidence-to-recommendation tables and grading of scientific evidence.
• The paper synthesizes current knowledge on BCG vaccine efficacy and safety.

Main Results:

• The updated position paper replaces previous WHO guidelines on BCG vaccine use.
• Revised guidance is provided for immunizing children with HIV.
• Emphasis is placed on the importance of the birth dose of the BCG vaccine.

Conclusions:

• The WHO provides current recommendations for large-scale immunization programs.
• The position paper serves as a key resource for global health policy on BCG vaccination.
• Updated guidance supports the prevention of tuberculosis and leprosy.