The BCG vaccine is a live attenuated vaccine derived from Mycobacterium bovis, primarily used to prevent tuberculosis (TB). It is especially effective against severe forms of TB in children.
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BCG stands for Bacillus Calmette-Guérin.
It provides immunity or protection against tuberculosis, particularly TB meningitis and miliary disease in children.
BCG vaccination can cause a false positive result in tuberculin skin tests (TST).
The efficacy of the BCG vaccine varies geographically, with higher effectiveness observed in regions with less prevalent TB exposure.
In countries with high TB incidence, the BCG vaccine is part of the routine immunization schedule for infants.