South Sudan Immunization EPI 1 Vaccine

The EPI 1 vaccine in South Sudan is a part of the Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) and is given to infants to protect them against several diseases. The EPI 1 vaccine schedule in South Sudan includes vaccines for diseases such as tuberculosis, polio, diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, hepatitis B, and Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib). It is important for all infants to receive the EPI 1 vaccine according to the recommended schedule to ensure they are protected against these preventable diseases.

South Sudan Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) 1 Vaccine

Name: Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine

Target disease: Tuberculosis (TB)

Recommended age: At birth

Administration: Single intradermal injection at the left deltoid area

Dosage: 0.05 mL

Schedule:

- Birth

Indications:

- All newborns in South Sudan are recommended to receive the BCG vaccine.

Contraindications:

- Active, untreated TB
- Severe immunosuppression
- Known hypersensitivity to BCG or any component of the vaccine

Precautions:

- The vaccine should be given to healthy newborns.
- A careful examination of the newborn should be done before vaccination.
- Vaccination should be postponed if the newborn has any skin infections or other conditions at the injection site.
- The vaccine should be given by a trained healthcare worker.

Adverse events:

- Local reactions: Redness, swelling, and tenderness at the injection site (up to 50%)
- Fever (up to 10%)
- Abscess formation (rare)
- Lymphadenitis (rare)
- Disseminated BCG infection (extremely rare)

Effectiveness:

- The BCG vaccine is effective in preventing severe forms of TB, such as meningitis and miliary TB.
- It has been shown to be 50-80% effective in preventing pulmonary TB.

Monitoring and surveillance:

- All adverse events following vaccination should be reported to the nearest health facility.
- Vaccination coverage is monitored through routine reporting and surveys.