Does BCG have a role in tuberculosis control and prevention in the United Kingdom?

Abstract

The United Kingdom has recently changed its BCG vaccination policy in response to the changing epidemiology of tuberculosis (TB) in children. One of the changes has been the abandonment of the long standing school's BCG programme because of the low risk of TB in that population. The other change has been the targeting of those infants and children at increased risk of TB, particularly in populations with increased rates of TB. However, there remain questions as to what role BCG plays in TB control and prevention in the UK.