Tuberculosis Vaccines

Tuberculosis which is often abbreviated as TB is one of the common, deadly infectious disease. Tuberculosis is caused due to mycobacteria; it is mainly caused due to the mycobacterium tuberculoslis. Tuberculosis mainly affects the lungs of the human body. The tuberculosis vaccines are meant for the prevention of the disease.

Currently there is only one vaccine of tuberculosis available. It is commonly known as the BCG

The BCG is a noted vaccine for tuberculosis, technically it is known as the bacilli Calmette-Guerin. The BCG is commonly used in the nations where there is high prevalence of tuberculosis in the form of childhood tuberculosis meningitis and military disease. These vaccinations are used only as preventive measures.

The BCG or the bacilli Calmette-Guerin is manufactured from the strain of attenuated live bovine tuberculosis bacillus. The BCG has proved to have a effectively of 80% for a duration of 15 years. However the protectiveness of this vaccine varies according to the geography of the regions.

The history of the development of this vaccine is tied to the development of the vaccination of small pox. Jean Antoine Villemin was the first person to recognize the bovine tuberculosis way back in the year 1854. Scientist Robert Koch differentiated the Mycobacterium bovis and the Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

An attempt to find the corollary in tuberculosis was made. After the success of the vaccination again smallpox, scientists were soon attempting to develop the vaccine again tuberculosis. Finally in the year 1921 the BGC was developed. However the first field trials showed disastrous effects. In Lubeck 240 infants all of whom were barely 10 days old were vaccinated. 72 infants developed tuberculosis and died.

The legal actions proceeded and the reports showed that the vaccines had been contaminated with a virulent strain.

In the year 1928 it was once again taken in by the League of Nations, Health Committee. But due to the opposition to vaccination it was not that widely used.

In the years of 1945 to the year 1948, after a major war the relief organization International Tuberculosis campaign used the vaccination in a disciplined and safe manner. The organization vaccinated over 8 million infants in Eastern Europe.

The procedure and the vaccine proved to be the safest and has been widely used ever since.

Recommended Reading

1. Vaccines Against Hbv - The disease of the Hepatitis B causes the inflammation of the liver. The disease is caused due to the Hepatitis...
2. Cholera Vaccines - The basic ways of avoiding the disease of cholera are improving the quality of the water supply, good sanitation facility,...
3. Tuberculosis A Global Disease Beyond Just The Tropics - While tuberculosis is not classified as a typical tropical disease, it is just as serious as one. Tuberculosis aka TB...
4. Diphtheria Vaccines - Diphtheria vaccines are usually given as a combination vaccine DPT that gives protection against Diphtheria, pertussis and tetanus. Diphtheria is...
5. Bubonic Plague Vaccines - The Bubonic Plague is one of the deadliest infectious diseases. It is caused due to the enterobacteria Yersinia pestis. This...