The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has introduced an adult Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccination drive to tackle the tuberculosis (TB) crisis in Mumbai. On the campaign’s first day, December 23, 1,990 people across 12 wards received the vaccine.
While the BCG vaccine has traditionally been administered to newborns, this initiative extends it to adults in a phased rollout. BMC Commissioner Bhushan Gagrani urged residents to participate, stating, “This initiative is a vital step in our fight against TB. I encourage every eligible citizen to contact their nearest health centre or TB programme staff and take advantage of this opportunity.”
Participation is voluntary and requires written consent. Since September 2024, Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs) have surveyed communities to identify eligible individuals, finalising the list between October and December. The campaign supports India’s National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme, which aims to eradicate TB by 2025.
In 2023, Mumbai reported over 50,000 active TB cases. To address this, the BMC has launched two key measures: adult BCG vaccinations for high-risk groups, supported by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), and Cy-TB testing for early detection of latent TB infections.
“The adult BCG vaccination programme targets vulnerable groups such as those treated for TB in the past five years, household contacts of TB patients from the past three years, diabetics, smokers, malnourished individuals, and people aged 60 and above,” said Dr Daksha Shah, Executive Health Officer at the BMC. “Focusing on these populations will help us break the TB transmission cycle.”
The Cy-TB test, introduced under the Programmatic Management of TB Preventive Therapy (PMTPT), is a skin test similar to the Tuberculin Skin Test (TST). It detects latent infections and requires a follow-up within 48-72 hours. “This free test primarily targets household contacts of TB patients to evaluate their risk of developing the disease. Preventive medication is provided if the results are positive,” Dr. Shah added.
A study by ICMR–NIRT, Chennai, found the Cy-Tb test cost-effective for diagnosing latent TB infections, requiring Rs18,658 to prevent one TB case. Price reductions or bulk procurements could transform it into a cost-saving strategy. Policymakers are encouraged to adopt the test to enhance economic benefits and optimize TB prevention efforts.
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