Did you have the BCG vaccine?

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So there's been lots of media outlets mentioning the weak link between countries that have the BCG vaccine still on their schedule and low incidence/fatality of COVID, with countries that never had BCG (Italy/US) on their schedule having high incidence and fatality. I'm not really debating that, obviously much more research is needed. The general theory being the BCG jab boosts your overall immunity, or provides a blueprint for combatting other unrelated pathogens, particularly just after its given (which they are trialling on healthcare workers in Australia).

The question was posed to Michael Mosely on Twitter and he said well everyone in UK has had BCG and we have high incidence/fatality so that link can't be right. But I wonder how many have not had it here, most under 30s won't have had it unless considered at risk, but the rest of us between 30-70 should have had it right?

Except lots of people commented on Twitter that their council cancelled BCG vaccines in the 80s, their parents didn't consent, or they were off school that day. I'm in my 30s (northwest england) and had it, and I think most of my schoolmates did, apart from a handful that were either immune (Mantoux test) or scared of needles. Did you have it, or didn't and why?

I’m on my 30’s and I had it. I don’t know anyone my age who didn’t.

My dh is 2 years younger than me and he didn’t have it but he didn’t have a lot of vaccines. His parents weren’t anti vaxxers more can’t be bothereders

My brother and i had it, we're now late 30's.

Didn't they start tailing it off in the early 2000s?

Yes. I'm in my late 40s. Still have the mark. We all had them at secondary school. My grandfather caught tuberculosis when he was young, and it was put down on his death certificate when he died at 70 as one of the reasons.

I genuinely can’t remember, I think I had a reaction to the test and didn’t get it, but seriously can’t remember, I’m 51. I recall wanting the little circle on my arm like everyone else and I don’t have it.

My daughter is 22 and they stopped before she would have been eligible so she’s not had it for sure.

I had it in 1987 - everyone at my school did other than those already immune. Being scared of needles was no excuse - one girl was held down to have it!

I had it in year 6 of primary school (1993/4) As I remember it, all of my classmates had it. Perhaps one or two did not. I believe my younger brother also had it in year 6, which would have been 1996/7. We have visible scars.

Had it twice at school - no scar first time and failed test 2nd so had again. Huge scar!

It was standard for everyone in my year at school - but I'm old at almost 48.

My kids haven't had it, the eldest is 17 and it is now only offered to people in certain areas where TB is rife, or who have family links to other countries where it's endemic.

I thought the evidence was that the bcg may only protect for a number of years, so early 30s should have slight protection that is waning but late 30s will no longer be protected and those in their 20s didn’t get it? I had my bcg age 15 (I missed as I changed school but caught up later) so should have some slight protection now I’m in my early 30s.

So I think you would need to look at the death rates of those in the 30-35 category and see if they’re considerably lower than the 20s and late 30s?

I didn't have it, I'm 39.

I had it age 14.
I'm 35. Still have the scar.

I'm very early 40s and refused it at the time

My school year had it. Left in 2006. I didn’t have it myself as I reacted to the wee pinprick test.

I had it but I'm in my 50's. My DS had it as a baby, he's 17.

It's only given to those who live in high risk areas.

We were all tested (c1988 I think?) with the six needles test and all got the BCG unless the test reacted (only a couple of people and they both got sent for chest x-rays).

I remember a big hullaballoo around the test (6 needles!!!) and the vaccine (rumours that if someone punched you on the arm afterwards your arm would explode ), but I don't remember anyone opting out.

DH and I had it (we're both 46). Dd and ds have not had it. Protection can wear off though - apparently lasts somewhere between 15 years and maybe up to 60 years.

It was taken off the schedule in 2005

It was standard in my school - think it was 1996? That I had it. I was born in 1982.

My brother who was born in 1991 didn’t have it.

I was contacted by my health authority in Brighton in the late 90s who said I had been flagged as I'd been a teen in one of the counties that had stopped school vaccination in the 80s. I had it done - didn't hurt - but it did result in a big spot on my arm (!) No trace now.

I can't find the paper now, but I read they're testing it but the effect only lasts a year or so after inoculation so we would all need done again.

I was vaccinated as a child but have since lost all childhood immunity and that's one that wasnt repeated.

I remember a friend of mine came up as immune (the six needle ring on the arm came up as an itchy rash). On further enquiry, she discovered she'd already been vaccinated for TB before a holiday to India - so it was obviously given as a travel vaccination too.

I had it- early 30s.
My daughter had it as a baby as her dad is from
Africa.

I understand there’s a shortage hence now only those with a risk to certain countries and those in the inner cities get it.

(By child I mean I was a baby - my papa had tb)

I had it in 2004. I'm 31 now. Why on earth did they discontinue it?

I'm 33 and missed that vaccine

Yes early 40s. I think uptake was close to universal in my area.

I know some countries are testing using the vaccine but I thought it was more that the huge immune response to the vaccine would give you some protection but that it would be a medium term thing so not if you had the vaccine 20years ago.