Tuberculosis vaccination will be done earlier: doctor’s explanation
In Ukraine, the timing of key tuberculosis vaccination for newborns in maternity hospitals will be changed.
This was reported by the Ministry of Health of Ukraine.
The updated National Vaccination Calendar will come into effect on January 1, 2026. According to the new rules, BCG vaccination will be carried out 24 hours after the birth of a child, and not 3-5 days later, as is the case now.
As explained by Oksana Moloda, a phthisiopulmonologist and expert at the National Immunization Portal, the changes are in line with the recommendations of the World Health Organization, which advises administering BCG immediately after birth or as soon as possible.
According to her, the updated schedule takes into account the practice of early discharge from maternity hospitals and allows the child to be vaccinated even during a short stay in a medical facility.
The doctor emphasized that the incidence of tuberculosis in Ukraine is approximately 50 times higher than in most European Union countries. BCG vaccination in the first days of life is already practiced in 79 countries around the world.
The approach to the Mantoux test has also been changed. If a child did not receive BCG in the maternity ward, vaccination can be carried out without a prior tuberculin test or quantiferon test up to 7 months of age, provided there is no contact with a tuberculosis patient. Previously, this period was limited to two months.
Oksana Moloda explained that in infants under 6 months of age, such tests often give false negative results due to the peculiarities of the immune system. In addition, during this period, children have a low risk of infection.
The Ministry of Health also allowed the BCG vaccine to be administered simultaneously with other vaccinations. Previously, an interval of one month had to be maintained between them.
The doctor emphasized that BCG has no age restrictions. Children who were not vaccinated in the maternity ward can be vaccinated at state expense up to the age of 18, provided that the relevant test results are negative.
She added that BCG does not guarantee complete protection against tuberculosis, but it effectively prevents deadly generalized forms of the disease, including tuberculous meningitis and miliary tuberculosis.
As previously reported, the state enterprise “Medical Procurement of Ukraine” signed a contract for the purchase of a 9-valent vaccine against the human papillomavirus (HPV).
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