Bacillus Calmette-Guérin immunisation at birth and morbidity among Danish children: A prospective, randomised, clinical trial

Studies from low-income countries report positive non-specific effects of early Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) immunisation on childhood health and survival. Neonatal immunisation with BCG may prime the immune system and offer partial protection against other infectious and possibly allergic diseases. The potential clinical value of these non-specific effects has not yet been examined in a large randomised trial in high-income countries. … In the present trial the researchers aimed to test the effect of BCG on hospitalisation and morbidity including allergic diseases in high-income settings in a large clinical trial with patient-relevant outcomes. Their main hypothesis was that neonatal BCG vaccination would be associated with a 20% reduction in hospitalisation during the first 15 months of life.