Abstract

The efficacy of the ‘Bacillus Calmette-Guerin’(BCG) vaccination program was evaluated via BCG scars in 1505 young candidates to drafted into the army, while they were being scanned for tuberculosis by microfilms. One thousand four hundred and eighteen (94 %) young candidates had BCG scars. Fourteen (0.9 %) of the young adults had no education and the ratio of individuals having appropriate number of scars were increased by increase in school status (p=0.000). In microfilm evaluation; 1492 (99.1%) had normal graphs, while 3 candidates had suspected tuberculosis lesions (0.2 %). After scanning the suspected ones, anti-tuberculosis treatment was started in one of them (0.07 %) due to acid resistant bacilli positivity in the sputum. In conclusion, it is thought that the school status is important for success in BCG vaccination.