Parents face confusion over infant tuberculosis vaccinations following new immunodeficiency screening tests in Poland.
Source of Confusion
Parents of newborns are confused about the timing and method of vaccinations against tuberculosis. Until recently, the BCG vaccine was administered mandatorily to all infants in the first day of life at the hospital.
Doubts emerged after the Ministry of Health introduced a nationwide pilot screening test for severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) in newborns last year. The SCID test results take 5-12 days to process, usually after the child has been discharged from the neonatal ward.
Medical Concerns and Protocols
Vaccines containing live microorganisms, including BCG, are contraindicated for children with SCID. Former national neonatology consultant Prof. Ewa Helwich appealed in December to change procedures, recommending that neonatal departments inform parents about the possibility of delaying the tuberculosis vaccination until SCID screening results are obtained.
The Chief Sanitary Inspectorate reminded that if a newborn leaves the hospital without a tuberculosis vaccination, it should be performed at a primary healthcare clinic. However, the Healthcare Employers’ Association protested against transferring vaccinations from hospitals, stating they lack proper conditions and personnel with experience in administering intradermal vaccinations to newborns.
Ministry’s Position
The Ministry of Health and the Chief Sanitary Inspectorate clarified in a statement that the introduction of SCID screening tests does not change the eligibility criteria for BCG vaccination. They emphasized that newborn vaccinations against tuberculosis remain a priority.
The ministry explained that the risk of a newborn contracting tuberculosis (4,236 cases in 2024) is significantly higher than the risk associated with vaccinating a child with SCID. Currently in Poland, there is one case of SCID per 55-60,000 live births, meaning 4-5 cases per year.
Vaccination Policy
The ministry clarified that before performing the vaccination, doctors conduct a mandatory qualifying examination to exclude contraindications, including through a detailed interview about congenital immunodeficiencies in the newborn’s family. In cases where a doctor identifies a real risk of the disease, the BCG vaccination is postponed.
BCG vaccination in the first day of life remains common, mandatory, and justified in Poland by the current epidemiological situation. The BCG vaccine protects children, especially the youngest, against the most severe forms of tuberculosis.
