BCG Vaccination
We always hear about BCG vaccination but do we really now what this vaccine is all about?
To better understand the power of this vaccine, it is my aim in today’s column to make you well informed of BCG.
This is the simplest, the safest, most economical and most effective measure for the prevention of tuberculosis.
BCG stands for Bacillus Calmette Guerrin. This vaccine reduces the lifelong risk of endogenous reactivation associated with foci acquired from infection during childhood.
BCG is a preparation of live attenuated bovine tubercle bacilli. It is ideally administered at birth and or within the first month of birth by intradermal injection.
It is best given at the Right Deltoid region; however, for aesthetic purposes, some pediatricians may give this vaccine at the Right Gluteal area by intradermal route.
Parents are then advised to not apply anything on the BCG site and may expect a reaction in 2-3 weeks after the administration.
The reaction may vary from being a papule to a pustule and healing may occur in 2-3 months with scar formation. These reactions are expected and mother should not worry about.
Because BCG vaccine is very effective in preventing tuberculosis, it has been adopted as a national policy in many countries including our own country, the Philippines, to give BCG vaccination. This vaccine is included in the Expanded Programme on Immunization.