In Ukraine, the rules for BCG vaccination have changed: now the vaccine is administered within the first day of life.

According to ТСН: The procedure for vaccinating children against tuberculosis (BCG) has changed in Ukraine. Now, vaccination can be done within the first 24 hours after birth.

These changes align with the recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO), which advises vaccinating infants as soon as possible. This practice is already implemented in 79 countries around the world.

“The incidence of tuberculosis in Ukraine is approximately 50 times higher than in most EU countries, so BCG vaccination is relevant and should be done as early as possible to protect children from severe forms of tuberculosis,” she said.

In addition, the new rules simplify access to the vaccine for mothers. Previously, due to early discharge from maternity hospitals and military evacuations, difficulties arose in obtaining vaccinations. Now, BCG can be administered directly in the maternity ward within the first day after birth.

Updates in the Vaccination Calendar

The updated Vaccination Calendar also provides the possibility of administering BCG without a prior tuberculin skin test or QuantiFERON test until the child is 7 months old, provided there has been no contact with a person sick with tuberculosis. Previously, this possibility existed only up to 2 months.

Experts note that in children up to 6 months, the immune system is not sufficiently developed for a reliable Mantoux test result, and the risk of infection due to a limited social circle is minimal. Therefore, BCG vaccination without a prior test is safe.

The new Calendar allows BCG to be administered simultaneously with other vaccines, simplifying the vaccination schedule for children in their first year of life. Previously, there had to be a one-month interval between BCG and other vaccines.

Intervals and Vaccination Possibilities

Now a clear interval of 2 months is established between the Mantoux test or QuantiFERON test and BCG vaccination. This removes previous issues with organizing vaccinations, as test results would lose relevance due to delays in administering the vaccine.

If a child did not receive BCG in the maternity ward, the vaccination can be done until the age of 18, provided there is a negative result from the Mantoux or QuantiFERON test. This also applies to teenagers and certain groups of the adult population.

Doctors emphasize that BCG vaccination does not provide absolute protection against the disease, but reliably protects against severe generalized forms, such as tuberculous meningitis and miliary tuberculosis.

“Do not neglect the protection of your children - vaccinate them according to the updated Vaccination Calendar,” the message states.

It is worth noting that starting from 2026, an updated National Calendar of preventive vaccinations will be implemented in Ukraine, where the main changes relate to the introduction of a new mandatory vaccine.

The changes made will help the reader better understand the information, as the text has become clearer and more comprehensible. It is now clearly stated what changes have occurred and why, which is important in today's challenging conditions. BCG vaccination is an important step in protecting children's health, especially considering the epidemiological situation in Ukraine. The implementation of the new rules requires close attention from medical institutions and parents.