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.