Efficacy of BCG vaccination examined

News release from NETSCC, HTA

16 March 2010

New research evaluating the length of protection given by the BCG vaccine has been commissioned by the National Institute for Health Research Health Technology Assessment (NIHR HTA) programme. The BCG (Bacillus Calmette-Guerin) vaccine has been used to prevent Tuberculosis (TB) since 1953. It is not known however, how long the protection afforded by the BCG vaccine lasts, particularly in different age and population groups. This has hindered the development of evidence-based policies about immunisation against tuberculosis.

TB is an infectious bacterial disease which most commonly affects the lungs, and still causes around 350 deaths in the UK every year. In the UK, the BCG vaccine was routinely given to all 13-year old schoolchildren until autumn 2005. Since then, a ‘risk based’ programme has been in place which provides the BCG vaccination to those with an increased risk of getting TB, including newborn babies.

Researchers, led by Professor Laura Cunha Rodrigues and Dr Punam Mangtani of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, will conduct two case-control studies comparing the frequency of the BCG vaccine in people with and without tuberculosis. Both studies will evaluate how the protection given by the BCG vaccine changes with time since vaccination. The first study will examine children aged from 0-17 years, born in high TB incident areas of the UK, and targeted to receive BCG at the time of their birth. The second study will examine an adult age range from 23 to 37 years, born in low TB incident areas of the UK and were 13-years old when the pre-2005 programme existed.

”This important research will be the first to evaluate duration of the protective efficacy of the BCG vaccination given in infancy in the UK; as well as the first to provide a robust estimate of protection after 15 years when given at school age,” says Professor Rodrigues. “A successful outcome will consist of the production of good estimates of how long BCG vaccine protects against tuberculosis when it is given to infants and when it was given to school children.”

To view the full project details visit www.hta.ac.uk/2149

Notes for editors

 1. The National Institute for Health Research Health Technology Assessment (NIHR HTA) programme commissions research about the effectiveness, costs, and broader impact of health technologies for those who use, manage and provide care in the NHS. It is the largest NIHR programme and publishes the results of its research in the Health Technology Assessment journal. The journal’s 2010 Impact Factor (4.197) ranked it in the top 10% of medical and health-related journals. All issues are available for download free of charge from the website, www.hta.ac.uk

2. The National Institute for Health Research provides the framework through which the research staff and research infrastructure of the NHS in England is positioned, maintained and managed as a national research facility. The NIHR provides the NHS with the support and infrastructure it needs to conduct first-class research funded by the Government and its partners alongside high-quality patient care, education and training. Its aim is to support outstanding individuals (both leaders and collaborators), working in world class facilities (both NHS and university), conducting leading edge research focused on the needs of patients. www.nihr.ac.uk

Contact details

Naomi Williams, Programme Manager (Communications)
Telephone: 02380 595 646, Email: N.E.Williams@southampton.ac.uk

Emma Sunderland, Assistant Programme Manager (Communications)
Telephone: 02380 599 094, Email: E.Sunderland@southampton.ac.uk

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