View report page

B. C.G.Vaccination.
A high incidence of tuberculosis•is experienced by persons in the age group 15 to
25 years. The period after leaving school and entering employment carries a special risk
of contracting the disease.
A report of the Medical Research Council1s Committee on Tuberculosis Vaccinations
published early in 1956 indicated that vaccination with Bacille Calmette-Guerin (B.C.G.)
an attenuated strain of the bacillus tuberculosis offered a substantial degree of
protection when given to children shortly before they left school.
In June of 1956 a scheme was introduced whereby all school leavers, that is school
children of 13 years and over, are offered vaccination with B.C.G.
Before vaccination is given a simple skin test is performed, as some children will
already have been exposed to the disease and have subsequently developed an immunity. In
these instances the skin test is positive and arrangements are made for these- children to
have a chest x-ray to ensure that the previous exposure to tuberculosis has not resulted in
aotive disease.
Prom June 1956 until the end of the year fifteen schools were visited for this
purpose with the following results.
Number of children skin tested 1,808
" " " negative 1,296
" " " positive 512
Number of Children vacoinated 1,128
" " late reactors 43
69