BCG AND AUTOIMMUNITY

Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) is a live attenuated bacterial vaccine that contains the avirulent tuberculosis strain Mycobacterium bovis. BCG is historically given to protect against tuberculosis. Developed by Albert Calmette and Camille Guérin at the Pasteur Institute in 1919 and first given to humans in 1921, BCG is the most widely administered vaccine in the history of medicine and is considered to be extremely safe. BCG is on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines and is given to roughly 100 million children per year globally. BCG is also one of the most affordable medicines, costing less than a dollar a dose in many parts of the world... The BCG Working Group organizes conferences and publications that explore and advocate for the potential of the vaccine Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) as prevention and treatment of infectious diseases.