The decline of BCG immunity after neonatal vaccination: what about revaccination at one year?
Articles > Article ยท 1993
Authors: Halil Aydinlioglu, Suat Caglayan, Savas Kansoy, Isin Yaprak, Ebru Seckin, A. Rahmi Bakiler, Serap Aksoy
Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology, International, 1993, vol 7, pp 334-338
DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-3016.1993.tb00408.x
Summary
Two hundred and nineteen healthy newborns were vaccinated with the BCG vaccine, and their immunity was checked thereafter at 3, 6 and 12 months of age. We determined that 87% of tuberculin reactivity at 3 months declined to 61% at 12 months. Revaccination of nonreactive infants provided a 100% rate of reactivity. In the light of this information we propose a revision in the BCG vaccination programme in developing countries. We also found a close relationship between the tuberculin reactivity and scar formation after BCG vaccination, suggesting that a simple check of the left deltoid region for a BCG scar may give enough information about the child's immunity to tuberculosis.