BCG jab to be limited to high-risk babies

Plans to discontinue universal vaccination against tuberculosis are being put out to public consultation from Wednesday.

The Health Information and Quality Authority (Hiqa) has begun a six-week consultation period on proposed changes to the BCG vaccination programme for infants.

The plan is for Ireland to switch to selective vaccination of babies in high-risk babies rather than a blanket vaccination of all newborns.

The change would reduce the number of vaccinated infants from about 61,000 to 8,000 a year. This would significantly reduce the number of children experiencing adverse effects.

Currently, Ireland is one of only two Western European countries with a policy of universal vaccination against tuberculosis (TB).

In line with global trends, TB incidence in Ireland has been in decline over the past 25 years. Unlike other European countries with a low incidence, Ireland has continued a policy of universal vaccination.

“In the context of a falling incidence of TB, a shift in emphasis from protection by vaccination to prevention may be appropriate,” said Hiqa director of health technology assessments, Dr Máirín Ryan.

“In the context of a fall in TB incidence and diminished risk of acquiring TB, there has been a shift in the balance between the benefits and risks of offering vaccination to all infants.”

Neither vaccination programme is cost-effective, she pointed out, but a selective vaccination strategy would target resources on those who would benefit most.

The new strategy has been proposed by the national immunisation and national TB advisory committees. The public consultation lasts until October 21st, after which the authority will publish the findings of the assessment and advise Minister for Health Leo Varadkar.

More information is available on hiqa.ie.