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Tuberculosis Vaccines Clinical Trial
A report concerning this piece of research, which has been in progress during
the last few years, has now been received Young people from Brentford and
Chiswick took part in this trial The results have been so satisfactory that
B.C.G. (Bacillus Calmette-Guerin) vaccination must now be considered a useful
feature of preventive medicine, The details of the report sent by Dr, Pollock
of the Medical Research Council' are as follows
"During the last few years the Medical Research Council have been engaged
in an extensive investigation to determine whether two tuberculosis vaccines
are sufficiently valuable to be used on a mass scale in this country for the
prevention of tuberculosis 22 North London boroughs, (including Brentford and
Chiswick), and also areas in the Midlands and the North of England are taking
part„
The vaccines used in the investigation are B.C,G. vaccine which was introduced
more than 30 years ago, and a more recent introduction Vole vaccine
Although B, C. G vaccine has been used for many years in Scandinavian and other
countries, it has been difficult to assess its value Death rates from tuberculosis
have been reduced in countries where the vaccine has been widely used,
but this decline has been influenced by such things as better housing, better
nutrition, and advances in the treatment of tuberculosis. Also, equally good
results in the prevention of tuberculosis appear to have been achieved in some
communities where the vaccine was not widely used. Thus,, to assess the contribution
which the vaccine would make to the prevention of tuberculosis it has been
necessary to undertake a clinical trial
Between September, 1950, and December, 1952, school children in their last
term at Secondary Modern Schools were invited to take part in this clinical trial.
Those who joined were X-rayed and skin tested, and a proportion of the selected
susceptible children were given either B C. G. Vaccine or Vole Vaccine. Approximately
60,000 young people joined the scheme, of whom roughly 100 came from
Brentford and Chiswick Since then,it has been essential to keep in touch with
the participants to determine if the vaccines were preventing the disease. This
has been done by postal enquiries home visits by Health Visitors and regular
X-rays In addition much assistance has been given by the chest clinics and
hospitals in the areas concerned.
The follow-up has so far been very successful. Over 80% of the postal
forms have been returned, and more than 95% of the homes regularly visited.
Approximately 75% of the young people have taken advantage of the regular X-rays.
As a result of this intensive follow-up the investigation has already shown
that both vaccines confer a substantial degree of protection in adolescents at
least for four years after being given. It is now likely that tuberculosis
vaccination will soon be offered to all young people in their final term at
school in Britain, and that tuberculosis in young people will be considerably
reduced as a result.
The investigation is being continued and it is hoped to find out by continuing
to keep in touch with the participants how long protection from the vaccine
now lasts, as well as other information which will help to prevent tuberculosis.
The co-operation of all concerned has been an important feature of the investi
^.tion, It is hoped to continue this co-operation during the next few years "
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