Notification:
The Delhi health department has vaccinated more than 50,000 adults with the Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccine as part of efforts to combat tuberculosis (TB) and reduce mortality rates. This initiative is part of the Adult BCG Vaccination Study, which falls under the National Tuberculosis Elimination Program (NTEP).
The program targets high-risk adult populations in five revenue districts—NNew Delhi, North-East, West, East, and South—wwhile six other districts serve as control areas.
Traditionally, the BCG vaccine is administered to newborns, but this study explores its potential to reduce TB cases in adults, particularly those at higher risk. The statement highlighted previous research, including the Chingleput BCG trial, which demonstrated a modest 36% efficacy over 15 years, suggesting possible benefits from vaccinating adults.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO) , even a TB vaccine with 50% efficacy could reduce TB incidence by 12% and lower mortality by 8.5% by 2030. This study by the Delhi government is part of a larger initiative by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, in collaboration with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and the Department of Health Research (DHR).
The vaccination targets adults aged 18 and above from high-risk groups, including:
Contacts of TB patients within the last three years,
Individuals treated for TB in the last five years,
People with a Body Mass Index (BMI) below 18 kg/m2,
Adults aged 60 and above,
self-reported smokers and diabetics.
So far, about 50,000 eligible adults across Delhi's targeted districts have received the BCG vaccine. The health department will monitor participants' health outcomes over the next three years, with 14 periodic assessments planned to evaluate the vaccine's effectiveness.
This effort is aligned with the National Strategic Plan 2017-2025 for TB, which aims to achieve India's Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) target of eliminating TB by 2025. Through preventive measures like adult BCG vaccination, Delhi hopes to make significant progress in eradicating the disease.