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?

Yes it is very possible other countries have underreported cases and deaths especially if test kits are not available. However Ireland is less affected than UK, Portugal less affected than Spain and of course South Korea who were among first to report cases. Of course other factors could be increased testing and contact tracing in South Korea which I hear Ireland has tried to copy. Some say a female prime minister helps too!

I hope there is something in it, if it means developing countries without good healthcare systems but high BCG coverage are less impacted by Corona.

I’m 36 and didn’t have it. Pretty rural southwest.
We were told only in cities or areas with high rates of tb had it.

I'm really glad to see this thread - I'm 51 and had BCG at about 14. My one never left a scar either. Strangely last week, as well as a mouth full of cold sores ( first time in about 25 years!) my tb site reactivated - came up in a big hot red lump with a huge yellow head! I put a plaster on, the head burst but it's still quite lumpy. I'm absolutely flummoxed, I don't think I've been exposed to covid. This happened to anyone else?

I had the heaf test but mine reacted so I didn't need the BCG.

Was never offered any chest X-ray? Literally no mention of it at the time 🤔
Should I be worried?!

My sisters had it a few years later and need the jab, and got it.

I haven't had it im nearly 27, my dp is mid 30s and has the scar guessing they stopped doing it when I was in school

I had it at birth, and was grateful I didn't have the horror at school like others. For that reason I asked for DS to have it at birth, he was about 12 hours old when he had it. I'm relieved because they stopped offering it in schools by the time he was there.

I thought it only lasted about 15yrs anyway?
I didn’t have it for some reason (I’m 39) but both my children have as we’re in London.

Girlsingreen how strange, you could have been exposed to TB perhaps? I only notice my scar if it gets sunburnt and it itches. At least you will probably have a scar now!

I had it [ now early 60's ], none of my children had it or were offered it, they are late 30's and one 19

I had the BCG as a child(primary school age) and my grandmother also had it because my grandfather worked in an "at risk" profession as he worked in police custody, it was recommended I have it.

I was born in 96 btw

Yay! Scar at last . I would speak to gp but right now I don't want her to think I'm a complete fruit loop - but when things calm down a bit i'll mention it.

I’m mid 30’s and had it, so have my 3DC who are 16, 10 and 7 due to their paternal heritage.

Born in ‘80 and had the BCG in 92/93 (yr8) following head test.

I like the theory behind it, however, there has been noted an increased fatality rate in ethnic minorities and these individuals are those that would have the BCG now due to increased risk of TB.......

Will be interesting to see though

I had it when i was in secondary and i am 57, my mother who would be 83 this year also had it. My dh 58 also had BCG
My dc are in their early 20s and we had a letter when we were in secondary which said that if they had connections to countries with high TB rates then they should have BCG, but my dc didnt have those connections so they didnt have it

Yes I had it (I'm in my 40s) as a newborn as had a parent who worked in health care and could potentially have passed it on.

I had in school in the early 90s but didn’t get a reaction to it, so not sure that it took. both DDs had it on the day they were born (London) DD2 has a huge quite ugly scar on her arm from it - it was truly awful (and green) but I don’t remember DD1 having a reaction at all.

Also, thinking about it, I had the Rubella vaccination when I was younger but in both my pregnancies when I was tested, they said I wasn’t immune (despite being vaccinated on the day I gave birth with DD1) maybe I am vaccine immune (is there such a thing?)

I had it when I was 7 due to living in S E Asia.

DS had it at school but we then moved to an area that had withdrawn it so DD missed out

I’m late 40s and I had it. Still got the green certificate to say I’ve had it and remember it really being drummed into us by the medical staff and teachers that we needed to keep hold of it as employers and universities would request it. None of them ever did, but there it still is, with my exam certificates

Well I had it as a teenager and still managed to contract TB as an adult. Only lasts about 10 years, apparently!

I'm 40 and didn't have it in childhood or as a teenager as our health authority weren't offering the vaccine then (1980's). I only got it eventually when I started my nurse training in 1999.

I had it in the early 80s at secondary school. I had a scar on my arm but it has gone now.

I'm 31 and had it everyone in my year did

Everyone in my school year had it (NI around 1994-1995). From what I remember only one or two girls showed any immunity to the 'six pricks' test and nobody opted out - opting out of anything wasn't really an option at my super strict all-girls grammar school!