BCG vaccine extensively used even in countries where efficacy against pulmonary tuberculosis is negligible. A number of possible reasons for the variable efficacy of BCG in different countries have been proposed. None have been proven, some have been disproved, and none can explain the lack of efficacy in both low-TB burden countries (US) and high-TB burden countries (India). The reasons for variable efficacy have been discussed at length in a WHO document on BCG. BCG has protective effects against some non-tuberculosis mycobacteria. BCG has been one of the most successful immunotherapies. BCG vaccine has been the "standard of care for patients with
Inoculation Inoculation The terms inoculation, vaccination, and immunization are often used synonymously to refer to artificial induction of immunity against various infectious diseases. However, there are some important historical and current differences. In English medicine, inoculation referred only to the practice of variolation until the very early 1800s. When Edward Jenner introduced smallpox vaccine in 1798, this was initially called cowpox inoculation or vaccine inoculation. Soon, to avoid confusion, smallpox inoculation continued to be referred to as variolation (from "variola" = smallpox) and cowpox inoculation was referred to as vaccination (from Jenner's use of "variolae vaccinae" = smallpox of the cow).