BCG ?

Trev M

Hi All,

Apologies if its in here somewhere , I tried the search. "BCG" is too short and "Vaccination" gave me flu jabs, conspiracy theories and threads about peoples cats and dogs.

Anyway our wee man is five weeks tomorrow and he has his BCG. Ive read a bit on wiki and Im wondering why he's getting it so early? Has this been other peoples experience?

Also, Im dreading the thing being administered, the heal prick test was horrible to watch, and I thought my wife was gonna have a heart attack watching it. Am I right in saying the BCG is not a straight forward jab, more a scrape kinda thing on his skin depositing the vaccine under it?

Probably sounds silly and I know the PHN and clinic are professionals but ya worry none the less and just wanted to see other peoples first hand experience.

Thanks for any feedback or advice.
Trev

January

Trev, some babies actually get it before they leave hospital... so five weeks is fine for him to get it. My baby got hers at 8 weeks only because the clinic was closed over Christmas.

I kinda didn't look at my baby getting hers done, turned my head away but not sure if it's like a scrape or an actual jab... they might cry for a few minutes and be prepared for the sore to come up a few weeks later rather than straight away.

Nevyn

http://www.immunisation.ie/en/ChildhoodImmunisation/BCG/

What is BCG?


The BCG vaccine protects against Tuberculosis (T.B).

BCG vaccination is usually given to newborn babies, but can also be given to older children and adults who are considered to be at risk of developing TB.

BCG has contributed to the dramatic decline in TB over the past 40 years;


What is Tuberculosis-T.B.?

Tuberculosis (T.B.) is a disease caused by a bacterium called Mycobacterium tuberculosis. In Ireland TB usually affects the lungs but it can affect other parts of the body such as the glands, bones, joints , kidney and it can affect the brain causing meningitis (inflammation of the lining around the brain).


How do people get TB?

TB is usually spread by droplets in the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. You need to have close and prolonged contact an infected person to catch T.B. such as sharing a house, in schools, close contact with a child minder, friend or co-worker.


Who are most at risk of catching TB?

The following people have a greater chance of becoming ill with TB, if exposed to it:

* Those in very close contact with infectious people
* Children
* Elderly people
* Diabetics
* People on steroids
* People on other drugs affecting the body’s immune system
* People who are HIV positive
* People in overcrowded, poor housing
* People with chronic poor health


What are the symptoms of TB?

Symptoms of TB can include any of the following:

* Fever and Night sweats
* Cough (generally lasting more than 2 weeks)
* Weight loss
* Blood in the sputum (phlegm) at any time
* Swollen glands
* Tiredness
* loss of appetite


How serious is TB?

TB is a serious illness. The most serious complications are

* Major bleeding from the lungs (Rare)
* Death (this occurs in 7% of cases, usually elderly people)



How common is T.B.?

The combination of better living conditions, antibiotics against TB, and BCG vaccine has dramatically reduced the number of cases of TB in Ireland.


What is the treatment for T.B.?

With effective treatment it is possible to make a full recovery from T.B. It is treated with tablets, which must be taken for about 6 months. Without treatment, many people used to die from TB. It is essential to take the treatment regularly and to complete the course as prescribed.

What is in the BCG vaccine?

The vaccine contains a weakened (“attenuated”) form of a bacteria related to the one that causes tuberculosis. This stimulates the immune system to protect against tuberculosis.


Is BCG Vaccine safe?

Yes BCG vaccine is safe. Of the people who are immunised:

* Most people will get a blister and scarring on the arm where the BCG injection was given
* 1 in 100 may get small swollen glands under the arm
* Up to 1 in 1000 may get an infection, which responds to treatment.


Where can I find out more?


You can ask for further information regarding immunisation from your G.P., Public Health Nurse or local HSE clinic

See the National Immunisation Guidelines of Ireland 2002, Chapter 16 for more detailed information on Tuberculosis at http://www.ndsc.ie

See the Health Protection Surveillance Centre web site for more detailed information on BCG(Available on http://www.ndsc.ie

See the Health Protection Surveillance Centre web site for more detailed information on Tuberculosis (Available on http://www.ndsc.ie

The needle will be pushed in under the skin and the vaccine deposited in a bump. The bump will in most cases go red and be weepy and eventually scab over and heal.

I had 3 such jabs as a kid my own children only had to two done for their BCG.

You little one may be cranky and restless afterwards, I now I used to dread when they were due shots as they would be out of sorts for a few days afterwards. Put they always bounced back.

Trev M

Much obliged just a little re assurance , poor little guy , hope he doesnt have too bad a reaction:(

ebmma

Trev M wrote: »

Much obliged just a little re assurance , poor little guy , hope he doesnt have too bad a reaction:(

try not to worry too much. he might be quite upset but better that than TB.

my OH's aunt had really bad TB when she was a kid, lost most of her lung capacity.
My granny's sister died from measels when she was a child.
Our generation really has it easy, we can actually try to protect our kids from stuff like that.

wolfpawnat

they have no reaction to it other than a few minutes of giving out!!!!

They lightly inject into the left arm in 2 little aligned spots. the will blister after a few weeks and then fade down.
My fella was easily placated as soon as I fed him so it cant hurt that much;)

MrsA

My little guy had his at 5 months due to us leaving hospital on the day of his birth and they were not able to fit him in before then.
He did not even cry as they were giving him the injection and had no reaction to it at all.

I am sure your little guy will be fine.

M
xx

hinault

4 week old had his BCG shot today.

No reaction from the little fella whatsoever when he was getting it done

nikpmup

Mine had his yesterday, and apart from being a little put out for a few seconds he was fine. The nurse told me that they don't tend to get the few days of being off colour like with the other jabs. He has no bump yet, I'm hoping it won't scab too badly.

Digs

My LO got hers on day 2, didn't even flinch.

The bump took a week or so to come up and is only beginning to go. She's seven months on the 23rd :O

Edit to add: the phn told me they like to see it scab up nicely as it's the "international passport" to show you've had the shot! Thought that was mad!

nikpmup

Digs wrote: »

My LO got hers on day 2, didn't even flinch.

The bump took a week or so to come up and is only beginning to go. She's seven months on the 23rd :O

Edit to add: the phn told me they like to see it scab up nicely as it's the "international passport" to show you've had the shot! Thought that was mad!

I have no scar from it, but my OH has a big red circle on his upper arm

RubyGirl

I have a 8 & 5 year old and never got it, must be just where u are in the country. Sister's kids dont have it either?

LoopyLolly88

RubyGirl wrote: »

I have a 8 & 5 year old and never got it, must be just where u are in the country. Sister's kids dont have it either?

I also have a 8 & 5 year old and a 12 week old and they all got the BCG by a month old. Im fron co.Wexford if that makes a differrnce.

Digs

RubyGirl wrote: »

I have a 8 & 5 year old and never got it, must be just where u are in the country. Sister's kids dont have it either?

Are you in Galway by any chance?

Thread about it here http://touch.boards.ie/thread/2057002484/1/#post85730664

liliq

RubyGirl wrote: »

I have a 8 & 5 year old and never got it, must be just where u are in the country. Sister's kids dont have it either?

There are a few areas where it's not given.

TextureLikeSun

None if mine have had it -neither have i or any of my sisters.We are from cork so dont know if thats why?Had my most recent baby in wexford and they were shocked that i didnt let her get it-theyvare still sending me out letters 16 months on. Not keen on the scar it leaves tbh ive seen a few nasty looking ones pity you cant get it in a more discreet place

nikpmup

TextureLikeSun wrote: »

None if mine have had it -neither have i or any of my sisters.We are from cork so dont know if thats why?Had my most recent baby in wexford and they were shocked that i didnt let her get it-theyvare still sending me out letters 16 months on. Not keen on the scar it leaves tbh ive seen a few nasty looking ones pity you cant get it in a more discreet place

I think the idea behind the upper left arm is to standardise it, so that medical staff can quickly check if you've had the vaccine without checking medical records

sturdyhairy

wolfpawnat wrote: »

they have no reaction to it other than a few minutes of giving out!!!!

They lightly inject into the left arm in 2 little aligned spots. the will blister after a few weeks and then fade down.
My fella was easily placated as soon as I fed him so it cant hurt that much;)

I agree that it does not hurt that much and the pain is tolerable:)

RubyGirl

Digs wrote: »

Are you in Galway by any chance?

Thread about it here http://touch.boards.ie/thread/2057002484/1/#post85730664

Yes.

pwurple

TextureLikeSun wrote: »

None if mine have had it -neither have i or any of my sisters.We are from cork so dont know if thats why?Had my most recent baby in wexford and they were shocked that i didnt let her get it-theyvare still sending me out letters 16 months on. Not keen on the scar it leaves tbh ive seen a few nasty looking ones pity you cant get it in a more discreet place

I'm from cork, we all got it.

You didn't let your baby get it because you are "not keen on the scar"? Are you keen on TB?

Typer Monkey

Plus, depending on their job or travel etc, they may end up having to get it as an adult anyway. In Templemore we all had to line up and show our BCG scar. Those who hadn't had it as a child had to have it done then (and most of those were from Cork actually so it's obviously been a long standing policy not to vaccinate there)

vitani

Wasn't there an outbreak of TB in Cork quite recently?

My little one didn't even flinch when she got it although the lump on her arm got quite angry afterwards - my PHN maintains that the worse it is, the better the vaccine's actually worked. Either way, I wouldn't dream of not vaccinating her against anything.

Lisha

vitani wrote: »

Wasn't there an outbreak of TB in Cork quite recently?

My little one didn't even flinch when she got it although the lump on her arm got quite angry afterwards - my PHN maintains that the worse it is, the better the vaccine's actually worked. Either way, I wouldn't dream of not vaccinating her against anything.

http://www.irishhealth.com/article.html?id=11418
http://thecollegeview.com/2013/03/01/tb-outbreak-in-dcu/

At one stage if you were from cork you did not get it done in maternity hospital you had to go to phn . They were great to send out appointments and letters.
This us why uptake in cork is traditionally lower than rest of country .

Tasden

sturdyhairy wrote: »

I agree that it does not hurt that much and the pain is tolerable:)

My little one cried for the first time with proper tears after her bcg, up til then it was just mooching or shouting as opposed to crying- broke my heart! She got a dreadful scab which was quite nasty looking for a while but gp said some kids just take longer to heal than others.

wolfpawnat

I really need to sort out my daughter's one. I hate doing it to her, but I rather one afternoon of angry baby than sitting at her bedside in a hospital as she tries to recover from a disease I could have prevented her getting. I don't like to comment on other parents parenting techniques, but to not do it is really sickening to me, the only way we can annihilate these horrific diseases is to vaccinate. A small scar is a tiny price to pay, my son is 4 and you can't even see his anymore.

galah

so Galway is now the only county in Ireland where you can't get the BCG unless you're part of a high risk group?
Lovely...:mad:

liliq

galah wrote: »

so Galway is now the only county in Ireland where you can't get the BCG unless you're part of a high risk group?
Lovely...:mad:

There's been talk of it being phased out for other areas too. It's not a good value vaccine, for what it costs the government it's not an effective enough vaccine.

pwurple

galah wrote: »

so Galway is now the only county in Ireland where you can't get the BCG unless you're part of a high risk group?
Lovely...:mad:

It is annoying, but if you feel strongly about vaccines, you can get it. It won't be free is the only thing. We got our daughter a few extra vaccines because we have close friends with immuno-suppressed children. It costs, but it is possible.

Rose35

My little boy got it in the hospital the day he was born, we live in mayo, its practice at MGH to give to newborns because west of ireland is considered high risk for the disease, so don't understand the logic with county galway.

wolfpawnat

I cannot fathom why the government and parents would not ensure these vaccines are given. Vaccines do not guarantee you do not get the illnesses they are against, but they give you a far less severe version of it and with some of these vaccines being against FATAL diseases, I would do anything to insure my children are vaccinated. Ireland would spend far more on specialist wards and doctors/nurse training for TB than the cost of a vaccine. The prevention is far better than the cure. And as a parent, I could not look myself in the mirror if my kids got a severe illness I could have prevented.

liliq

wolfpawnat wrote: »

I cannot fathom why the government and parents would not ensure these vaccines are given. Vaccines do not guarantee you do not get the illnesses they are against, but they give you a far less severe version of it and with some of these vaccines being against FATAL diseases, I would do anything to insure my children are vaccinated. Ireland would spend far more on specialist wards and doctors/nurse training for TB than the cost of a vaccine. The prevention is far better than the cure. And as a parent, I could not look myself in the mirror if my kids got a severe illness I could have prevented.

The problem with the BCG is that TB has evolved hugely since the BCG was developed, there are numerous different strains and the BCG is completely ineffective against the huge majority of them. The strains it is effective against are not ones that are even commonly seen anymore, as far as I know.