In times of war, immunization is one of the most effective ways to protect yourself and your children from serious diseases and their consequences. This also applies to the BCG vaccine, which prevents the development of severe forms of tuberculosis. BCG is a live vaccine with weakened mycobacteria that do not cause disease but stimulate the immune system to produce antibodies in case of contact with infection.

Yulia Letz, an expert in pediatric phthisiology and candidate of medical sciences, talks about the importance of the vaccine and when it should be administered.

“The BCG vaccine does not prevent infection or TB, but it protects against severe forms of the disease. This applies to generalized processes, when mycobacteria spread through the blood and can affect various organs, as well as TB meningitis. Such forms of TB lead to high mortality among children, especially under 1 year of age, or to serious health consequences. Therefore, it is important that all infants receive vaccinations at birth,” the expert points out.

The phthisiatrician notes that Ukraine is one of the countries with a high incidence of TB, so the likelihood of encountering the pathogen is high. According to WHO recommendations, BCG is recommended for children living in countries with high TB incidence rates to prevent severe forms of the disease. Individuals who have not previously been vaccinated with BCG and have moved from regions with low TB burden to high-risk countries may also receive a dose of the vaccine.

When should you get vaccinated?

After 20 years of changes in the WHO structure, it is now one dose on the 3rd-5th day after birth. In case of delay, the vaccination can be done later, but before the age of 5, as it is during this period that the immune system is most vulnerable to infections. For children aged 2 months and older, BCG vaccination is only given after a Mantoux test, which detects previous contact with TB infection.

Why do we do a Mantoux test before vaccinating?

“If a child already has an infection and is given a live infection from the vaccine, this can intensify the infectious process in the body, which can lead to serious complications. Therefore, only if the Mantoux test is negative, starting from the age of two months, can a child be vaccinated,” says the phthisiatrician.

BCG is completely free and is provided in healthcare facilities such as maternity hospitals.

You can also get vaccinated at vaccination offices:

– children’s and adult polyclinics (primary health care centers);

– outpatient clinics;

– paramedic and midwifery stations.

What if a child was born during the occupation or in frontline territories?

“If a child was born in conditions where it is not possible to obtain BCG, it is recommended to contact the nearest health care facility for vaccination. Unfortunately, mobile clinics for BCG vaccination are currently operating on a limited basis, but mobile medical consultations are available where you can obtain information on vaccination and TB prevention. If you are in occupied territories or combat zones, it is advisable to move children to safer places with access to adequate medical care. It is important to remember that one of the methods of prevention is early diagnosis, including the diagnosis of TB infection,” comments Yuliia Letz.

Are new vaccines against TB being developed, and is there hope for a vaccine that provides complete protection against the disease?

“The development of new vaccines against TB has been ongoing for several decades, and currently, about 14-16 vaccines are in various stages of clinical trials. Despite significant progress, there is currently no vaccine that guarantees protection against all forms of TB, particularly its pulmonary forms in adults,“ notes the candidate of medical sciences. ”BCG remains the most effective for the prevention of severe and fatal forms of TB in children. However, research is ongoing, and some new vaccines are showing promising results in reducing the risk of developing TB, which could be an important step forward in the fight against this disease.

“To stay healthy, especially in wartime, it is important to maintain a healthy lifestyle, have access to warm and dry accommodation, eat a balanced diet and, if possible, evacuate to safer areas where you can receive adequate medical care,” the TB specialist shared her key advice.