NEWS – Belagavi led the drive, followed by Kalaburagi, Bengaluru Urban, Vijayapura, and Davangere. Dakshina Kannada ranked lowest.

HIGHLIGHTS

• India launched its first adult BCG vaccination drive three months ago in 15 districts across Karnataka.
• Coverage Stats: Over 4.16 lakh adults vaccinated — 2.21 lakh women, 1.94 lakh men, and 562 transgender persons.
• Target Groups: Adults previously treated for TB, close contacts of TB patients, elderly (60+), diabetics, smokers, and individuals with BMI under 18.
• Consent Mandatory: Written consent is required before vaccination; women outnumbered men in vaccine uptake across all districts.
• Challenges: Turnout below expectations. Example: Davangere had 2.5 lakh eligible, but only 30,546 vaccinated.
• Logistics: One vaccine vial must be used within 4 hours.
• Objective: To compare TB incidence in vaccinated vs non-vaccinated districts. ICMR to evaluate impact over 3 years.
• Future Expansion: If successful, drive will expand to other districts.
• About BCG: Bacillus Calmette–Guérin (BCG) vaccine is the only licensed vaccine against TB, used since 1921. It Works better farther from equator; limited efficacy in tropical countries like India.
• India’s TB Burden: India accounts for 27% of global TB cases, per WHO 2019 data.