Understanding BCG Is the Key to Improving It

The need for improved tuberculosis control remains a global health priority. The most cost-effective long-term solu-tion for any infectious disease epidemic is effective vaccination. The only licensed vaccine against tuberculosis, BCG, when administered at birth, is highly effective at preventing disseminated disease in childhood. However, the protection con-ferred against pulmonary disease is highly variable, and a more effective and consistent vaccination regimen is urgent-ly needed [1]. Leading approaches to de-veloping a better tuberculosis vaccine include boosting BCG with a subuni