[Tuberculin screening and BCG vaccination in primary school children in the Bas-Rhin in 1976/1977].

A campaign of tuberculin testing in standard fashion, followed by BCG vaccination in those giving an inadequate reaction, was carried out on all children in the Bas-Rhin department in France in their first primary school year for the year 1976-1977. Of 15,560 pupils enrolled 64.5 percent had already had at least one BCG vaccination. 12,820 had the standard test, the remaining 2,740 were either absent or parents refused permission. 27.8 percent of those vaccinated had an indurated area of more than 4 mm diameter, compared to 7.4 percent among those not vaccinated. 9,517 children were vaccinated or revaccinated during the campaign, by means of scarification of intradermal injection. 4,472 had a standard post-vaccine test during the following school-year: a diameter of induration of 4 mm or less was found in 28.9 percent. The proportion varied according to the doctors who had vaccinated them but was lower among the children vaccinated by intradermal injection.