Proposals to vaccinate all newborn children in London to reduce the spread of tuberculosis (TB) have been put out to consultation by NHS commissioners in the capital.
According to
London Health Programmes (LHP), a joint initiative commissioning NHS services, cases of TB have risen 50% in the capital. A draft LHP plan say all newborn children should be vaccinated within six weeks of birth.
The range of proposals also includes targeted testing to help to cut the rate of the respiratory illness by 50% over the next 10 years. The consultation runs until 13 July and the views of health professionals are invited.
London has one of the highest rates of cases of TB in western European capital at 40 per 100,000 people.
Other proposals include improved early identification of people with infectious TB, targeted testing and treatment of latent TB infection and an awareness and education programme.
