title: BCG immunization age in urban and rural areas of Akita Prefecture, Japan.
abstract: BCG immunization, utilizing whole-body coordination, is a highly cost-effective means of health intervention for preventing miliary tuberculosis (TB) and TB meningitis. In this study, we investigated the appropriate age by which a child should have completed his or her BCG immunization and discuss the current BCG immunization rate in Akita Prefecture, Japan. BCG immunization rates in urban and rural areas were 90.1% and 80.7%, respectively. Our immunization data were lower than the World Health Organization's (WHO) recommended rate. Immunization coverage rates in urban settings were higher than those in rural areas among infants four months to fifteen months of age, except for those six months old. We recommend: (1) completing BCG immunization by the age of twelve months, (2) preparing and educating parents for BCG immunization by means of a health policy, and (3) changing BCG immunization methods from group to individual inoculation. Immunization coverage rates may be increased or maintained to prevent miliary TB and TB meningitis.
authors: Department of Public Health, National Institute of Public Health, Saitama, Japan. yahata@niph.go.jp
authors: Yuichiro
authors: Y
authors: Yahata
authors: Hirohisa
authors: H
authors: Imai
authors: Yoshiharu
authors: Y
authors: Fukuda
authors: Yong
authors: Y
authors: Zhang
authors: Tomoko
authors: T
authors: Satoh
authors: Hiroyuki
authors: H
authors: Nakao
authors: Kazuhiko
authors: K
authors: Moji
authors: Kenichi
authors: K
authors: Amano
mesh_terms: D017677:Age Distribution; D001500:BCG Vaccine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000276:immunology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D012424:Rural Population; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000517:prevention & control; D014505:Urban Population; D014611:Vaccination / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
chemical_list: D001500:BCG Vaccine