A comparative study of Danish (Statens Seruminstitut), Glaxo and Behringwerke vaccines—revaccination of schoolchildren

Abstract

Three BCG vaccines were studied for their capacity to evoke tuberculin reactivity and local reactions at revaccination. The vaccines were produced by Statens Seruminstitut in Denmark (vaccine based on the Danish strain 1331), by the Glaxo Laboratories in England (vaccine based on the British strain 1077) and by the Behringwerke in the Federal Republic of Germany (vaccine based on the Danish strain 1331). The study comprised three independent trials (in Gothenburg, Umeå-Skellefteå and Stockholm) in children aged 14-15 years who had been vaccinated with BCG at birth. A total of 2997 children were vaccinated. In the Gothenburg areas tuberculin tests (2 TU PPD RT23) were performed 6-7 weeks after vaccination. Of the children vaccinated with the Danish vaccine 98% developed a tuberculin induration of greater than 6 mm. The mean size of induration was 11.4 mm. The corresponding figures for the Glaxo vaccine were 98% and 13.4 mm, and for the Behringwerke vaccine 76% and 8.0 mm. Open lesions 6-7 weeks after vaccination were reported in 4% of the children vaccinated with Danish vaccine (mean diameter of lesion 4.0 mm) and in 8% vaccinated with the Glaxo vaccine (mean diameter of lesion 4.6 mm) while none vaccinated with the Behringwerke vaccine showed open lesions. On the basis of the results obtained in our investigation as well as in other studies reported in the BCG literature, the authors concluded that the Danish and the Glaxo vaccines at present appear suitable vaccines for use in Sweden.