Definition

A vaccine containing bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG), a live, attenuated strain of Mycobacterium bovis obtained from the Pasteur Institute in 1924, with non-specific immunoadjuvant and immunotherapeutic activities. Upon intradermal administration, BCG Tokyo-172 strain vaccine activates the immune system and enhances a specific, systemic BCG antigen immune response. This results in active immunization against tuberculosis and primes the immune system against future administered BCG antigens.