Re: Revised BCG vaccination guidelines for infants at risk for HIV infection

[Guest guest]

Dear Dr.Diwakar,

To add to what you have mentioned, GAVCS has not recommended not giving BCG

vaccine in settings like India where HIV infection in children is not known till

18 months of age. The information is available at

http://www.who.int/vaccine_safety/topics/bcg/immunocompromised/Dec_2006/en/index\

..html . The relevant paragraph is mentioned below:

The committee recognizes the difficulty in identifying infants infected with HIV

at birth in settings where diagnostic and treatment services for mothers and

infants are limited.

In such situations, BCG vaccination should continue to be given at birth to all

infants regardless of HIV exposure, especially considering the high endemicity

of tuberculosis in populations with high HIV prevalence.

Close follow up of infants known to be born to HIV-infected mothers and who

received BCG at birth is recommended in order to provide early identification

and treatment of any BCG-related complication.

In settings with adequate HIV services that could allow for early identification

and administration of antiretroviral therapy to HIV-infected children,

consideration should be given to delaying BCG vaccination in infants born to

mothers known to be infected with HIV until these infants are confirmed to be

HIV negative.

Regards

Ramakrishna

G.S. Ramakrishna

e-mail: <gramakrishna@...>