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. 2012 Apr;72(4):374-80.
doi: 10.4046/trd.2012.72.4.374. Epub 2012 Apr 30.

The Current Status of BCG Vaccination in Young Children in South Korea

Hyejon Lee  1 , Hazel M Dockrell, Deok Ryun Kim, Sian Floyd, Sue Yeon Oh, Jin Bum Lee, Hee Jin Kim
Affiliations

The Current Status of BCG Vaccination in Young Children in South Korea

Hyejon Lee et al. Tuberc Respir Dis (Seoul). 2012 Apr.

Abstract

Background: Delivery of Bacille Calmette-Guréin (BCG) Tokyo vaccine, with the multipuncture device, has been much preferred over BCG Pasteur, with the intradermal method, possibly due to the easier manner of administration, a desire to avoid any trouble with scars, as well as side effects and higher profits to providers in South Korea.

Methods: To determine BCG scar status in 0~6 year old children vaccinated with two BCG vaccines (Pasteur BCG vaccine with intradermal method and BCG Tokyo vaccine with percutaneous method), the data from the national BCG scar survey in 2006 was analyzed.

Results: Based on the national survey, the high proportion that were vaccinated with BCG Tokyo vaccines with the multipuncture method (64.5%) was noted in 0~6 year old Korean children. From inspection of scar formation, as an indicator of vaccination, the median number of the visible pin scars from the percutaneous method was 16 (interquartile range, 12~18) in the Korean children, and pin scars decreased as the age of the children increased (p<0.001).

Conclusion: The findings in this survey clearly showed a growing preference of parents for the BCG Tokyo vaccines by the multipuncture method in South Korea.

Keywords: BCG Vaccine; Tuberculosis; Vaccination.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Distribution of scar size (mm) among BCG Pasteur recipients by age. The figure excludes data from children with no scar. The different lines indicate each age group from 0 year to 6 years old. BCG: Bacille Calmette-Guréin.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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