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 had it and I’m 31

No, I am 50. They did the 5 needles test before you had it and that showed I had already been exposed to TB. I had to have a chest x ray which was fine.

I didn’t realise it wasn’t a routine thing anymore all three of mine had it as babies in a Surrey hospital. Dp and I had it at high school (we’re in our 30s and 40s)

@Glowcat thanks for the info. I am in one of those London boroughs and my DC was born after September 2016 but she wasn't offered the BCG vaccine at all, despite what the guidance now says. None of our friends with DCs the same age were offered either so seems a bit strange. I think there has been a big shortage over the last few years so may be related to that.

I'm 60 and had the BCG vaccination but hardly think it could still protect from TB.
My mother had TB at the age of 18 in 1940 and I was told I couldn't be a blood donor because my mother had TB

Sorry, to the poster who asked where I got the idea that Italy does not have the BCG, this journal has more info
<a class="break-all" href="https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=erj.ersjournals.com/content/erj/43/1/24.full.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwiXwtXD8uzoAhX3WRUIHeXQDooQFjAHegQIChAB&usg=AOvVaw3kQ80u6N_w0jhaQH1ezaio&cshid=1587038391297" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=erj.ersjournals.com/content/erj/43/1/24.full.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwiXwtXD8uzoAhX3WRUIHeXQDooQFjAHegQIChAB&usg=AOvVaw3kQ80u6N_w0jhaQH1ezaio&cshid=1587038391297
From what I've read, Italy only vaccinated selected at risk groups, BCG not a childhood vaccine as with other countries.

I’m 38. I was at an independent school. State school children in our area got it, but independent school children had to pay. My Mum refused to pay.

I had it as did DP but our DC's didn't. To my shame I meant to get them done privately and failed.

Whats really annoying is that if we'd lived a few minutes down teh road they'd ahve got them because of our postcode

Everyone in my year at school had it and I'm 29.

I didn’t have it but no idea why, as all my cousins did....not sure if my brother did or not. I remember my cousins punching one another on the arm! 🤣 I’m late 30s.

I’m 48 and had it. I remember us all lining up at school and several people fainting!

I had it. Got the scar too.

Don't know if all my siblings did though.

I’ve had it 28 but my sister 22 didn’t.

I had the bcg, my kids weren't allowed it (I begged) because we lived in the wrong postcode. I think I had covid 19, mild symptoms, only significant one was loosing smell and taste for a week

I had it (born mid 80s) but my younger sister didn't. My children both had it in different London boroughs. One encouraged all to have it and one offered if you wanted, both in the last 5 years.

Had it at school in Cheshire in the 70s. DD 22 had it in 2006 at 9 just before leaving UK for France as we were told it was necessary. At that time Manchester were still doing it due to the high incidence of TB.

I remember it quite well because it felt like being injected with stinging nettles and have a scar.

I had the skin test but didn't need the vaccine. I had to have a chest xray but it was all clear. Apparently my father didn't need his either. Dont know if that's a good or bad thing.

Also got the cervicle cancer one when I was 16? 17

I had it as a routine vaccination at school in Wales in 1993. DD1 had it as a baby on the NHS in 2007 as we lived in a South London district with TB cases. DD2 not offered it in a more rural location a couple of yrs later.

My best friend & I received BCG vaccine at the same time, she got TB a few years later. The vaccine is not 100% effective.

I turn 40 this year and I had it (I don't have the trademark circular scar though, which I know is quite unusual. Mine healed quickly and without any trace).

I had it probably around the age of 13. I’m early 60s now.

I had it in year 9, so probably about 1994?

I don't think DS1 had it, although his Dad is from Africa and he was born in a London borough? Should he have had it?

I didn't because my Heaf test was positive.

Don't know what that means now. I had covid-19 symptoms for three weeks and my GP (inner London, had also been exposed to someone with a positive hospital test) was pretty sure I had it.

Am now 99% better. Don't know what all that adds up to...