BCG vaccination. A review

Abstract

General BCG vaccination is still carried out in Asturias despite the recommendations against such policy by the health authorities. In our country the natural decline of the disease begun well before the first massive BCG vaccination in 1965. As most cases of tuberculoses arise from already infected individuals, the vaccine does not break the epidemiological chain. BCG utility is accepted before the grave complications, namely the prevention of meningitis, but at the expense of interfering with the tuberculin test. Since such prevention can be achieved by a correct chemioprophylaxis and an adequate study of the contacts, in those countries with an annual risk of infection (ARI) lower than 1 %, as is the case of Spain, the possible benefits of the general BCG vaccination are overriden by the disadvantages.