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Why has BCG vaccination been especially important for young children in developing countries?

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Tuberculosis — tuberculosis A doctor examining chest X-rays of patients infected with tuberculosis, which remains one of the world's deadliest diseases.

The BCG vaccine is particularly important for young children in developing countries because it provides them with an immune response that offers partial protection against serious forms of tuberculosis.1

In regions where the prevalence of the disease is high, the use of the BCG vaccine has been a successful strategy to help control the spread of infection among the pediatric population. By conferring immunity for several years, the vaccine serves as a critical public health tool in areas where environmental and nutritional conditions may otherwise increase vulnerability to the disease. While the ultimate goal for global control remains the rapid identification and treatment of infectious patients to prevent exposure, the BCG vaccine remains a vital intervention for protecting infants and young children from the most severe outcomes of the infection.12