Effect of Simultaneous Administration of Oral Polio Vaccine on Local Reaction of BCG Vaccine in Term Infants

Objective: To study local reaction and to ascertain timing of scar formation in infants after BCG vaccination at birth, with and without simultaneous administration of trivalent OPV. Design: Prospective observational study. Setting: Teaching hospital in Lucknow, India. Participants: 152 term neonates born in the hospital and given BCG and OPV 0-dose simultaneously before discharge, within 7 days of birth (Group I) , and 122 infants born at home or in private health facility, not given OPV-0 dose, coming for vaccination within 7 days of age (Group 2). Intervention/Observation: Follow up done at 6 week, 10 week, 14 week and 9 months. Local reaction was recorded at the site of BCG vaccination. Results: Scar formed in ≤14 wks in 51.3 % and 89.3 % babies in Group 1 and Group 2, respectively following BCG vaccination (P<0.001). At 9 months, scar developed in 93.9 % infants in Group I and 94.3 % babies in Group II. Abortive reaction and non-reactors were similar in both groups (P>0.05). Conclusions: Simultaneous administration of BCG vaccine with trivalent OPV to term infants in early neonatal period prolongs the time of scar formation but sequence of local reaction is not affected