View Full Version : BCG Injection
Chloe O'brien
03-02-2008, 00:00
I don't know if anyone is aware of this but Marley brought home a letter from school yesterday and personally I am appalled. It concerns the BCG immunisation that children are tested for when they are at high school. This is what the letter says:
Should your child have a BCG vaccination:
Students in the UK are no longer routinely offered the BCG Vaccination, to help prevent Tuberculosis (TB). This is because there has been a change in the way TB has affected the UK population and the overall cases have fallen.
BCG is only reccommended if they, there parents or grandparents, were born in a country where TB is more commom. You are then asked to read the questionnaire where there are 3 questions and if you answer yes to any of them your child should be vaccinated, but it states that ;
the BCG is not available at the local GP surgery. These are the 3 questions:
1 Was your child born outside the UK in a country listed over the page?
2 child's parents or grandparents born in a country listed over the page?
3 Is your child going to visit or live in a country listed over the page for 3 months or more or visit frequently?
It then gives you alist of about 90 contries, but I don't see what difference it makes whether you are born in this country or have come to live in it children should still be vaccinated against this and other dieseases. Only a couple of weeks ago a teacher in Glasgow was diagnoised with TB so how can the governement say that cases are fallen. What do other parents think.
I was pretty ill after I had mine. I had a massive migraine which is very common in people who suffer from migraines. I spent several days in bed. The injection site wept for about three months afterwards, it wouldn't heal up.
I think everybody should be given the option of being vaccinated. What if Marley goes to one of those 90 countries when she's older? Just because levels are falling in this country doesn't mean they shoud reduce the vaccination programm. I think I was the last year group to be all vaccinated.
You might be able to get the vaccine if you go private.
StarsOfCCTV
03-02-2008, 00:26
The government is really stupid! Errr...cases have fallen because everyones had the jab! :rolleyes:
I was fine with mine, I don't think I even have a scar...the tetnas (sp?) jab affected me more I couldn't go to school for half a day because I couldn't move my arm!
CarerQuie
03-02-2008, 00:29
The real reason for this chnge of tack is that there is a shortage of the vaccine.xx
Chloe O'brien
03-02-2008, 00:34
I was pretty ill after I had mine. I had a massive migraine which is very common in people who suffer from migraines. I spent several days in bed. The injection site wept for about three months afterwards, it wouldn't heal up.
I think everybody should be given the option of being vaccinated. What if Marley goes to one of those 90 countries when she's older? Just because levels are falling in this country doesn't mean they shoud reduce the vaccination programm. I think I was the last year group to be all vaccinated.
You might be able to get the vaccine if you go private.
I don't see why I or any other parent should have to go private. Marley is 6 years away from being tested for the BCG vaccination. My point is that the UK unlike many countires we have a free national health service and many dieases have been reduced over the last 30 years due to vaccination surely to withdraw this vaccination and testing will only lead to an epidemic in years to come. I lost my father and uncle to TB both before Marley was born and ironicly my neice who is 24 is the only member of my family who did not require the vaccination when she was at school, but 6 months ago went down with a fatal diease with symtoms similar to TB. Luckly she survived but spent 3 weeks in intensive care. My concern is that parents were never properly consulted about this procedure. Some parents may agree with the new implentations but I don't prevention is better than cure regardless of which country you are born.
I agree, nobody should have to go private for vaccinations that should be, and have been, available on the NHS. However, if CarerQuie is right and there is a shortage of vaccines then the most vulnerable should get them first.
Why have you got a letter about if is she is 6 years away from the usual vaccination age?
Chloe O'brien
03-02-2008, 00:59
In my opionion the Government saying that there is a shortage of the vaccination is bull-sh*t. They are just be ambigous as they are hoping that parents won't kick up a fuss. As for informing parents or children still at primary school I can only think that by the time these children born in the late 90's early 2000 reach high school that there parents would have forgotten or accepted this decision but I for one am not.
StarsOfCCTV
03-02-2008, 01:06
Two words: Cost-cutting! :thumbsdow
Maybe they're trying to find the money to provide adequate maternity care for British mothers seeing as they spent £350million on foreign mothers' maternity last year.
what i find really bad in these sorts of situations are the childrens whose parents are not as clued up on the injections. They don't read the letters or, they don't understand them. At least when it was a compulsery vaccination then they don't have to be as aware of whats going on.
I dont know if that makes sense but it did in my head!
pookie1968uk
03-02-2008, 15:04
i thought i had read that TB was on the rise again beacause of immigration and it being brought into the country?
Chloe O'brien
03-02-2008, 19:17
It is on the rise. In the Grampian area of Scotland the number or cases reported in 2007 were 32 compared with 24 the previous year. Two-thirds of these cases were from immigrants coming to settle in the UK. Immigrants coming to live in the UK are being vaccintated but if your child has been born here then no, as I said it is another 4 years before Marley would have been tested but that is not longer going to happen, which concerns me that in the next few years we could have an epidemic. Surely it would be safer to continue to vaccinated all children.
samantha nixon
03-02-2008, 19:57
Last year at school, we all filled in the forms for ours, then got told that we could no longer have them either, and my mum has spoke to our doctors and we cant get them even if we go private, they are no longer giving them to anyone, other than the people you have mentioned, which i think is stupid as like you say it is people who are coming into britain who are bringing it with them, but they are also allowed to be immunised against it, which dont seem fair at all.
sindydoll
22-04-2008, 21:22
I don't know if anyone is aware of this but Marley brought home a letter from school yesterday and personally I am appalled. It concerns the BCG immunisation that children are tested for when they are at high school. This is what the letter says:
Should your child have a BCG vaccination:
Students in the UK are no longer routinely offered the BCG Vaccination, to help prevent Tuberculosis (TB). This is because there has been a change in the way TB has affected the UK population and the overall cases have fallen.
BCG is only reccommended if they, there parents or grandparents, were born in a country where TB is more commom. You are then asked to read the questionnaire where there are 3 questions and if you answer yes to any of them your child should be vaccinated, but it states that ;
the BCG is not available at the local GP surgery. These are the 3 questions:
1 Was your child born outside the UK in a country listed over the page?
2 child's parents or grandparents born in a country listed over the page?
3 Is your child going to visit or live in a country listed over the page for 3 months or more or visit frequently?
It then gives you alist of about 90 contries, but I don't see what difference it makes whether you are born in this country or have come to live in it children should still be vaccinated against this and other dieseases. Only a couple of weeks ago a teacher in Glasgow was diagnoised with TB so how can the governement say that cases are fallen. What do other parents think. how old is your child?
Am I missing something but do you not get the BCG a few days after the baby is born??? I know with both my kids I was told to have it done before they reached 4 weeks. Ben got his in the hospital at 2 days old and Charley was 2 weeks old...
Maybe its different in Ireland. I definately haven't had it otherwise the heaf test would have come back positive.
Maybe its different in Ireland. I definately haven't had it otherwise the heaf test would have come back positive.
Ok.. I just thought that it was the same everywhere... free vacation at birth for BCG and then the other injections at 2/4/6/12 months
Kath, this is not new. My boys ages 16 and nearly 14 did not get BCG jabs - their high school is also in Edinburgh. You are right, though, with the increase in TB it is something that needs to be revisited.
Im confused cos I only got my BCG a few years ago.
It hurt like hell!!!!!
Hollie-x
23-04-2008, 15:06
I'm in year 10 at the moment and we should have had ours last year, but we have been told that we don't need them anymore. Which personally I think sucks! Apparantly there isn't as many cases? Well excuse me but I think there is more that the government think! A friend of mine, her brother goes to college with someone who has recently had TB, meaning that he had to stay away from college until he got rid of it. Luckily no one else contracted it but I think it's ridiculous that we are put at this risk in the first place.
Could you pay for the vaccination if you were determined to have it? Might be worth talking to the doctor.
samantha nixon
23-04-2008, 16:24
Could you pay for the vaccination if you were determined to have it? Might be worth talking to the doctor.
You cant pay for it, as when we got told we couldnt have it, my mum went to our doctor and said she would pay whatever it costs and stuff and they still said that we couldnt have it done
By the way is the BCG the one where you have the 6 pricks about a week before, or whatever you call them
di marco
23-04-2008, 16:59
By the way is the BCG the one where you have the 6 pricks about a week before, or whatever you call them
yeh it is i think cos i didnt have it done cos the dots came up
TB is on the increase because of the influx of foreign migrants and asylum seekers coming to the country. A lot of countries charge for vaccinations, those that can't afford them don't get. They come here for a better life and bring the disease with them and pass it on to other people.
StarsOfCCTV
23-04-2008, 18:57
The governments going to end up paying for treatment of TB on the NHS and it's going to cost more than vaccinating people in the first place!
Chloe O'brien
23-04-2008, 20:00
I went to see my local MP a few weeks ago and he was concerned as I was and he said he would investigate. I was advised to put my concerns in the letter and return it too the school. Last week I got a phone call from a lady from the Lothian Health Board saying that if I wanted to pay for Marley to be checked it would cost me 35 quid but I would have to go to a private clinic to get it done and it could be done anytime and not wait until she reached 14, however My MP got back in touch with me and he has been told that if I want Marley tested I have to contact the school again and they will do it for free.
di marco
23-04-2008, 20:10
I went to see my local MP a few weeks ago and he was concerned as I was and he said he would investigate. I was advised to put my concerns in the letter and return it too the school. Last week I got a phone call from a lady from the Lothian Health Board saying that if I wanted to pay for Marley to be checked it would cost me 35 quid but I would have to go to a private clinic to get it done and it could be done anytime and not wait until she reached 14, however My MP got back in touch with me and he has been told that if I want Marley tested I have to contact the school again and they will do it for free.
:eek: £35! is that just for the test one or for the injection as well?
Chloe O'brien
23-04-2008, 20:28
Both 25 pound for the six needle test and 10 pound for the injection should she need it.
By the way is the BCG the one where you have the 6 pricks about a week before, or whatever you call them
yeh it is i think cos i didnt have it done cos the dots came up
The dots came up on mine but then went down within a few days
.:SpIcYsPy:.
23-04-2008, 23:22
I got my BCG when I was a baby? And then we got a letter from school in Year 9 but I didn't need it, loads of people did though.
I think some babies get it if a close relative has had TB in the year preceding the birth or if the baby was born in a country where TB is rife.
*-Rooney-*
23-04-2008, 23:34
i got my tb when i was 12 with everyone else my age at school, no questionnaires about where we were born or planned holidays the only thing that we got before hand was a skin test
di marco
24-04-2008, 08:38
Both 25 pound for the six needle test and 10 pound for the injection should she need it.
i cant believe the skin test is more than the injection itself!
di marco
24-04-2008, 08:40
By the way is the BCG the one where you have the 6 pricks about a week before, or whatever you call them
yeh it is i think cos i didnt have it done cos the dots came up
The dots came up on mine but then went down within a few days
mine was on the borderline apparently and the nurse i had and one of the other nurses had an argument for like half hour deciding whether i needed it or not! cos apparently if they give it to you and you dont need it it could paralyse (sp?) your arm or something!
di marco
24-04-2008, 08:41
i got my tb when i was 12 with everyone else my age at school, no questionnaires about where we were born or planned holidays the only thing that we got before hand was a skin test
we had it done at school as well, think i was in year 9? but we did have a questionairre (sp?) to fill in first about whether anyone in your family had had it etc
Kirsty :]
24-04-2008, 16:28
I had mine done when I was in Year 9.. so I was 14/15.
I think part of the reason they're rarely vaccinating now is because it's become rare for someone to cantract TB.. but I don't think they realise that by not giving the injection, in coming years it will return and then they will ahve to vaccinate again anyways. It's silly. Don't even know if I'm correct or not... just a theory of mine.
Chloe O'brien
24-04-2008, 22:45
Kirsty wha you said is true, and I agree that there has been a reduction of cases of TB over the years, but I believe that withdrawing the injection will cause the disease to return in future years. The lady who called me from the Health Board gave me a speech about what they are doing to fight the disease in different countries and how test have proved that it's better for a child to be tested when they are babies as when young people reach their teens the vaccine is not as effective. If that is the case why aren't children tested when the go for their MMR.
pookie1968uk
30-04-2008, 21:04
what about this latest news then? and they still think kids dont need immunising?
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/west_midlands/7375598.stm
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