The Delhi Health Department has successfully administered the Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccine to over 50,000 adults as part of its ongoing efforts to combat tuberculosis (TB) and reduce related mortality rates. The vaccination initiative is part of the Adult BCG Vaccination Study, conducted under the National Tuberculosis Elimination Program (NTEP), which focuses on providing the vaccine to high-risk populations in Delhi.
The trial targets five revenue districts — New Delhi, North-East, West, East, and South — while six additional districts are serving as control areas. The study aims to evaluate the impact of BCG vaccination, typically administered to newborns, in preventing TB cases among adults, particularly those at high risk.
A government statement revealed that the initiative has shown promise, with earlier research, such as the Chingleput BCG trial, indicating that the vaccine can have a modest impact, providing a 36% efficacy over a 15-year period. Although not a complete solution, these results point to the potential benefits of vaccinating adults, especially those in vulnerable groups.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has also endorsed adult vaccination as a valuable TB prevention strategy. According to the WHO, a TB vaccine with an efficacy of just 50% could reduce the incidence of TB by 12% and lower mortality by 8.5% by 2030. These numbers highlight the importance of continued innovation in vaccination strategies, especially in regions like India that experience high TB burden.
Delhi’s BCG vaccination study is part of a broader initiative by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, with support from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and the Department of Health Research (DHR). The project is focused on vaccinating adults aged 18 years and above from high-risk categories. These include individuals who have been in contact with TB patients in the last three years, people treated for TB within the last five years, adults with a body mass index (BMI) below 18 kg/m², people over the age of 60, self-reported smokers, and individuals diagnosed with diabetes.
So far, approximately 50,000 eligible adults across the targeted districts have been vaccinated. Over the next three years, the health of these individuals will be closely monitored, with periodic assessments — 14 in total — designed to evaluate the vaccine's effectiveness. These evaluations will be critical to determining how adult BCG vaccination can contribute to long-term TB elimination efforts.
This trial aligns with India's National Strategic Plan 2017-2025 for TB, which aims to meet the country’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2025. Prevention strategies, like adult BCG vaccination, are essential components of this larger national effort to eradicate TB.
By prioritizing vaccination in high-risk adults, Delhi’s health department hopes to make significant progress in controlling the spread of TB, a disease that remains one of India’s most pressing public health challenges.
(Input from various sources)
(Rehash/Ankur Deka/MSM)