Madam,

One hundred and fifteen scar positive, BCG vaccinated children between the ages of 2-12 years were tuberculin tested. Monotest purified tuberculin test kit from Institute Merieux France was used. This is a nine point punch and results were read in 2-4 days. One hundred and one reported for reading and 52 were tuberculin positive.
50% positivity is rather low following vaccination. The reasons can be multifold, of which one could be BCG vaccination at birth, when immune system is not fully developed and perhaps we should change the time of vaccination in children, whose families do not have the active tuberculosis amongst the contacts.

M Tariq Aziz
Tariq Clinic, Jamset Jee Building, 31 -Sarwar Road, Labore Cantt.