Bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG) Vaccine:
India announced that it has supplied 13 tonnes of Bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccines to Afghanistan.
- Bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG) Vaccine is the live attenuated vaccine form of Mycobacterium bovis.
- It is used to prevent tuberculosis and other mycobacterial infections.
- It was developed by Calmette and Guérin and was first administered to human beings in 1921.
- It is the only vaccine against tuberculosis.
- It is the most widely administered vaccine and usually a part of the routine newborn immunization schedule.
- It also offers protection against non-tuberculous mycobacterial infections like leprosy and Buruli ulcer.
- It is also used in the treatment of superficial carcinoma of the bladder.
- The vaccine is administered intradermally.
- It has two components, a freeze-dried vaccine and a diluent to be used to reconstitute the vaccine, presented in amber glass ampoules and colourless ampoules respectively.
- Tuberculosis (TB) is caused by bacteria (Mycobacterium tuberculosis) that most often affect the lungs.
- It is curable and preventable disease
