HSE warns of BCG vaccine shortage

Newborn babies and adults at risk of tuberculosis may be unable to get the BCG vaccine in the coming weeks due to a European-wide shortage of the vaccine.

The Health Service Executive warned this evening the Danish manufacturer of the vaccine Statens Serum Institut (SSI), which is the sole supplier to the European market, had run into to regulatory difficulties.

The vaccine is given to newborn babies but can also be given to older children and adults who are considered to be at risk of developing the disease.

It is not possible to stockpile the vaccine in advance as it has a very short shelf-life.

The HSE said that while it hoped to receive fresh stocks of the vaccine in early January and "as there are adequate supplies for the immediate three to four weeks, the period of interruption will be short".

The HSE's assistant national director for population health Dr Kevin Kelleher said: "There has been a dramatic decline in TB over the past 40 years in this country, and the risk of contracting the condition remains low, so there is no need for any undue alarm or concern."

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