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Mumbai: Six months ago, Dr Sidhika Talavat, an assistant medical officer with D ward in Mumbai, faced a personal crisis: a close family member was diagnosed with tuberculosis. On Monday, as the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) launched a campaign to vaccinate high-risk groups—including close contacts of TB patients, diabetic seniors, and smokers—Dr Talavat led by example. She became one of the first at her health post to receive the Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine alongside her family to boost public confidence in its safety.
“My 65-year-old relative was a diabetic patient for several years,” Dr Talavat said. “With diabetics, it takes a long time for TB to be diagnosed. It doesn’t mean every diabetic patient will develop TB, but they are at a higher risk. My relative’s TB was latent for many years. She has now recovered.” The BCG vaccine, typically part of childhood immunisation schedules, is being offered to high-risk adults as part of the campaign to provide an additional layer of protection against Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
Dr Daksha Shah, executive health officer of the BMC, noted that this vaccination drive is a pilot initiative ahead of a broader rollout. “Those vaccinated will be tracked every quarter for three years to monitor how the vaccine works and identify any rare adverse events,” she said.
While some wards could not complete surveys needed prior to the vaccination drive, Dr Shah said the drive is underway in all 12 pilot wards. “We’ve instructed wards to ensure at least one health centre administers the BCG vaccine daily,” she added.
A medical officer from one of the wards said, “We are calling on everyone in the eligible criteria to come forward to have themselves vaccinated. We have also started the Cy-TB test (a skin test) to detect latent tuberculosis cases.”
The vaccination programme began on Monday. BMC has prepared a list of vulnerable people – former patients, patients with diabetes, smokers, immunocompromised patients, senior citizens.
“My 65-year-old relative was a diabetic patient for several years,” Dr Talavat said. “With diabetics, it takes a long time for TB to be diagnosed. It doesn’t mean every diabetic patient will develop TB, but they are at a higher risk. My relative’s TB was latent for many years. She has now recovered.” The BCG vaccine, typically part of childhood immunisation schedules, is being offered to high-risk adults as part of the campaign to provide an additional layer of protection against Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
Dr Daksha Shah, executive health officer of the BMC, noted that this vaccination drive is a pilot initiative ahead of a broader rollout. “Those vaccinated will be tracked every quarter for three years to monitor how the vaccine works and identify any rare adverse events,” she said.
While some wards could not complete surveys needed prior to the vaccination drive, Dr Shah said the drive is underway in all 12 pilot wards. “We’ve instructed wards to ensure at least one health centre administers the BCG vaccine daily,” she added.
A medical officer from one of the wards said, “We are calling on everyone in the eligible criteria to come forward to have themselves vaccinated. We have also started the Cy-TB test (a skin test) to detect latent tuberculosis cases.”
The vaccination programme began on Monday. BMC has prepared a list of vulnerable people – former patients, patients with diabetes, smokers, immunocompromised patients, senior citizens.
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