In most developing countries, BCG is given as soon as possible after birth and is an integral part of the immunisation programme so that a controlled trial which withheld neonatal BCG vaccination would not be ethical. However, it is uncertain how long the non-specific protective effect of BCG persists and whether this could be sustained by a further injection of BCG in the second year of life. A major trial to investigate this possibility is under way in Guinea Bissau with mortality as its main end-point. The current study has made use of this opportunity to investigate whether or not re-vaccination with BCG has a protective effect against malaria.