Selective neonatal BCG vaccination.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the implementation of the "Selective Neonatal BCG Immunisation Policy", and to study the causes of non-compliance, or failure of uptake of BCG immunization.


METHODS
The Birth Register data were used to generate a list of babies born in the catchment area of Basildon and Thurrock NHS Trust between 1 January 2001 and 31 December 2001 who were eligible for BCG immunization. The Community Child Health computer was used to generate information about their BCG immunization status.


RESULTS
201 children were included in the study. One hundred and seventy-one children had received BCG immunization in the neonatal period, out of which 169 had received it before discharge from the hospital. Two children were immunized in the community in the neonatal period. Thus, 85% of the newborns eligible for BCG immunization received their vaccination in the neonatal period.


CONCLUSIONS
The current "Neonatal BCG Immunisation Policy" is effective, and there is a high uptake of the vaccine in the neonatal period within the hospital itself. Newborn infants who do not receive BCG immunization in hospital rarely get immunized in the community.
Bakshi
D
D
Basildon Hospital, Essex, UK. dinkarbakshi@rediffmail.com
Sharief
N
N
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001500:BCG Vaccine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002391:Catchment Area, Health; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006801:Humans; D017589:Immunization Programs; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology; D018579:Patient Selection; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016312:Treatment Refusal / Q000523:psychology; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006113:United Kingdom
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D001500:BCG Vaccine