There is no BCG (Bacillus Calmette–Guérin) vaccine in the entire district since the end of November due which newborns who came to this world could not be vaccinated for prevention of TB, credible sources at the Chandka Children Hospital (CCH) disclosed to this Scribe on Saturday. These sources further said that all the 12 vaccination centers across Larkana district being managed by the District Health Officer (DHO), Larkana, are also without BCG. DHO Dr. Syed Amjad Shah also confirmed the news. Dr. Amjad Shah said that BCG shortage is not only being faced by Larkana district but by entire Sindh. He said over 100 vials are monthly required for entire district but independent sources said that monthly requirement of Chandka Children Hospital Center is 100 vials and this center is without BCG vaccine since end of November. Dr. Shah said that he has also written a letter to higher health department authorities in this connection and their monitors were also informed about the BCG shortage during their recent visit to Larkana. He said meeting is also scheduled with the Sindh health minister next week in which this issue will also be raised. Dr. Shah claimed that there is no harm if BCG is vaccinated even after one month. 20 newborns can be vaccinated from a vial, experts said. Since pregnant women arrive at Shaikh Zayed Hospital for Women (SZHW) here for delivery purposes from more than 12 districts of rural Sindh and many districts of Balochistan and newborns are also vaccinated under EPI at the CCH which is located opposite the SZHW. Experts who do not want to be identified said that if BCG is not given to the newborns timely as per EPI program then more TB cases are likely to emerge in the future in the province which is already facing massive outbreak of HIV among children in Ratodero and Hepatitis. The vaccines is named after two French scientists Albert Calmette and Camille Guerin, which is primarily used against tuberculosis(TB). In countries (like Pakistan) where tuberculosis is common, one dose is recommended in healthy babies as close to the time of birth as possible, most preferably soon after birth. The vaccine is given by injection into the skin (called intradermal injection). Additional doses are not supported by evidence. The BCG vaccine is one of the vaccines included in Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI) being run in Pakistan and other such countries where TB infection is rampant. Serious side effects are rare. Often there is redness, swelling, and mild pain at the site of injection. A small ulcer may also form with some scarring after healing, the scar is often taken as confirmatory sign that the child is vaccinated with BCG. It is not safe for use during pregnancy. The BCG vaccine was first used medically in 1921. It is on the World Health Organization’s “List of Essential Medicines”, the safest and most effective medicines needed in a health system. Retired DHO Dr Khalilullah Shaikh said that shortage of BCG Vaccine is not uncommon. Its main causes include disparity between demand and supply, supply short of its demand, it comes in multi-dose ampules, each ampule contains 20 doses and loses its potency within 1-3 hours of opening the vial, therefore, to be discarded even it contains for example 19 doses of vaccine. He added that wastage is also one of the causes behind its shortage despite 50% wastage is allowed while calculating the supply consisting of rough estimates of demand, actual and authentic birth rates are not known and the demand therefore surpasses the supply, he added. Dr. Shaikh said that EPI Centers of Larkana (mainly CCH) which also cater adjacent districts of Sindh and Baluchistan, the shortage often becomes acute. He said government must ensure its proper and regular supply across Sindh or else those newborns will be left behind who arrive from other districts’ far flung areas or provinces.