[Contemporary status of BCG vaccine in the world and in Serbia].

During the second half of the 20th century, due to anti-tuberculosis activities including BCG vaccination, the number of patients affected by tuberculosis was constantly declining in Serbia and in the majority of European countries. Nowadays Serbia and Montenegro (S&M) is a country with a moderate incidence of TB stable during the last 10 years and with potential risk of worsening of the epidemiological situation. The increase of newly diagnosed cases in 2002 has already been notified. The coverage of newborns with the BCG vaccination, still mandatory in S&M, is 96% on average, and depends on the region. Revaccination at the age of 10 years was discontinued in 2002. The aim of this paper was to review the current status of BCG vaccination in different countries, data on it's efficacy, duration of protection against tuberculosis, cost-effectiveness studies and general plans on vaccination compared to the WHO recommendations and national legislation. Although some of the International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases (IUATLD) criteria for discontinuation of BCG vaccination have been fulfilled, current TB epidemiological situation in S&M requires continuation of BCG vaccination at birth.