@article {Thayyil-SudhanF64, author = {Sudhin Thayyil-Sudhan and Ashok Kumar and Meharban Singh and Vinod Kumar Paul and Ashok Kumar Deorari}, title = {Safety and effectiveness of BCG vaccination in preterm babies}, volume = {81}, number = {1}, pages = {F64--F66}, year = {1999}, doi = {10.1136/fn.81.1.F64}, publisher = {BMJ Publishing Group}, abstract = {AIM To assess the cell mediated immune response to BCG vaccine in preterm babies. METHODS Sixty two consecutive preterm babies born at \< 35 weeks of gestation were randomly allocated into two groups. Babies in group A were vaccinated early at 34{\textendash}35 weeks and group B were vaccinated late at 38{\textendash}40 weeks of postconceptional age. The two groups were similar in terms of: gestational age (mean (SD) 33.1 (1.1) and 33 (1.2) weeks, respectively); birthweight 1583 (204) and 1546 (218) g; neonatal problems; socioeconomic status; and postnatal weight gain. The cell mediated immune response to BCG was assessed using the Mantoux test and the lymphocyte migration inhibition test (LMIT) 6{\textendash}8 weeks after BCG vaccination. Induration of \>5 mm after the Mantoux test was taken as a positive response. RESULTS There was no significant difference in the tuberculin conversion rates (80\% and 80.7\%, respectively), positive LMIT (86.6\% and 90.3\%, respectively), or BCG scar (90.0\% and 87.1\%, respectively) among the two groups. CONCLUSIONS Prematurity seems to be an unlikely cause for poor vaccine uptake. Preterm babies can be effectively vaccinated with BCG at 34{\textendash}35 weeks of postconceptional age, the normal time of discharge in a developing country.}, issn = {1359-2998}, URL = {https://fn.bmj.com/content/81/1/F64}, eprint = {https://fn.bmj.com/content/81/1/F64.full.pdf}, journal = {Archives of Disease in Childhood - Fetal and Neonatal Edition} }