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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To not vaccinate my child with BCG?

219 replies

SandyBabyToes · 24/01/2018 12:53

I say this because SIL lives 5 minutes down the road and her area are completely exempt from it Confused

I asked one of my local health professionals why we were in the catchment area for it and he said it was to do with a lot of immigration control, hence the vaccine being offered.

But, we don't go to that side of our town (it's a big town), and we don't mix in that area (it's not a short way away).

And even if we did and that slight chance would be the reason for it, why doesn't SIL's area get offered it when she's literally in spitting distance.

Taking all this into account, I'm not really comfortable with my DC having it. It's not a nice vaccine to have and often leaves a scar

OP posts:
EmpireVille · 24/01/2018 13:38

Don't bother OP. It's not necessary. Some people adore vaccines and will line up for everything going and that's fine for them.

I make my own decisions. Read up on TB and how it spreads. Your children are most likely not at risk.

Hedgehog80 · 24/01/2018 13:39

My first had it as the skin test back in 2001 before she was 12 weeks.... next three we couldn’t get it in our borough and ds5 had the injection in hospital they told us it was our choice but they considered it very important

Mia1415 · 24/01/2018 13:40

My area don't offer it anymore. I'm actually quite surprised at how common place the vaccine still us (judging by this thread).

I had a bad reaction to mine and now have a massive scar and crater on my arm!

If I lived in an at risk area I would have my DS have it though. In your situation I'd do a bit more research about the risk in your and surrounding areas and speak to your GP.

MsHarry · 24/01/2018 13:40

I don't think we can be complacent about TB but when my DD was 7 (10 yrs ago)she had a nasty chest infection and had to have a chest x ray as it wasn't shifting after antibiotics. She was referred to a TB clinic at the hospital. I was scared but I got a phone call from the consultant before the appointment to say please don't worry, I've just seen your daughter's name and can almost guarantee she doesn't have TB!!! Turned out she had a mycoplasma infection/walking pneumonia which required different antibiotics. I was quite taken aback by the consultant's words though.

BashStreetKid · 24/01/2018 13:41

We live in an area where it's not routinely provided, but DS qualified because I was born in one of the countries where it's a higher risk. Realistically his risk from me is minimal, as I left the country in question over 30 years ago and have had the BCG myself (and no scar!). But I figured - why wouldn't you? Where we live there's a lot of mobility, the borough next to ours is higher risk, why would I risk DS having TB when it's so easy to do something to protect against it?

WeirdAndPissedOff · 24/01/2018 13:44

There was a lit of fuss about the BCG vaccine being awful, leaving scars etc when we were at school. I don't remember it being particularly bad at all, and I don't have a scar now - ditto most of my school friends at the time. However 2 kids at the school caught TB, so I'm glad we had the vaccine.
If it matters, our school was a "naice" one but had a mid-sized population of 2nd/3rd generation immigrants. (Born and raised in the UK, but caught TB from visiting relatives).
However no-one lives in a bubble, and illnesses such as TB don't differentiate by culture or race.

ReggaetonLente · 24/01/2018 13:44

Have it. If they ever go travelling, they'll need it anyway.

Commuterface · 24/01/2018 13:45

Don't bother OP. It's not necessary. Some people adore vaccines and will line up for everything going I don't "adore" vaccines. I do however listen to advice from medical experts.

coffeeforone · 24/01/2018 13:46

YABU - My DS had it last year. Not in catchment area or anything, but his father is Indian (maybe they think we are more likely to travel to a country where TB is a bit more active).

No side effects. Took a while to heal but didst seem to bother him. I'd just get it IIWU.

CramptonHodnet · 24/01/2018 13:47

I didn't have the BCG done at school because it was thought then that it had been eradicated. It hasn't. I will get my DC done if it is offered. A neighbour of my late dad's died of TB 3 years ago. They don't know how he got it and it was, by then, untreatable. It's a nasty disease.

ReggaetonLente · 24/01/2018 13:47

My neighbour's daughter was ill for a long time and it weakened her whole body, she was affected by it for many years.

I always remember the nurse on Call The Midwife who was rendered infertile by her episode of TB. I know it's just a programme but I looked it up and it did happen.

BashStreetKid · 24/01/2018 13:47

I turned it down for mine.
It's hard to catch TB.
I'm confident they're not at risk.

Really, EmpireVille? Unless you're locking your child up at home, how can you be 100% confident that they will never within the next few years be near someone with the TB bug who sneezes in their vicinity? Will they never go on public transport, never go to school, never go to the cinema or theatre, never be in a crowded shop or Mall?

Your children are most likely not at risk.

"Most likely" is absolutely zero comfort to the parents of children who catch TB because they're not vaccinated.

Passthecake30 · 24/01/2018 13:47

Mine had them within hours of being born. They have a tiny scar, almost like a badge of honour as we have moved since!

Skowvegas · 24/01/2018 13:50

Have it. If they ever go travelling, they'll need it anyway.

Except that it will have worn off by then.

WindyWednesday · 24/01/2018 13:50

I picked my scab and I’ve got a scar. It’s very small and I don’t notice it. I’m in my 40’s and it donee t bother me. Never has. Rather that than TB.

My parents have massive scars from their small pox vaccines. Those are big deep scars.

PinkyBlunder · 24/01/2018 13:53

So you’re being offered a vaccine that is t routinely offered but your logic for turning it down is your SILs kids haven’t been offered it and it might leave a scar Hmm

You’re missing the point.

Your kids are being offered the vaccine because you live in an area where it is thought there could be a risk of TB. Your SIL doesn’t. It doesn’t matter matter if you can see her house from yours, she still doesn’t. As for the issue of a scar, that’s batshit.

The vaccine isn’t going to do them any harm if they have it regardless, so where’s the issue?

RolyRocks · 24/01/2018 13:54

why on earth wouldn’t you vaccinate against a really horrible disease if you’re offered it? (Barring actual medical reasons of course)

There are actual medical reasons to not have the BCG.

Glumglowworm did write 'barring actual medical reasons of course...'

DottyS · 24/01/2018 13:57

It's a richer, predominantly white area in which we live. And with that statement you have shown how ignorant and ill educated you truly are.

Do some proper research before you start making comments like that

Ixiepixie · 24/01/2018 14:04

Postcode lottery exists due to lack of resources (cash and vaccine).

If it is being offered in your area, I would take the offer up. The fact that it is not offered in your SILs area is shortsighted. Having been involved in discussions relating to resource allocation in the NHS, my impression is that many policy makers prioritise making "efficiency savings" over common sense or have a lack of imagination i.e. they can't imagine that kids who live in "safe" areas will mix with people who live in "at risk" areas....

Original poster
SandyBabyToes · 24/01/2018 14:05

Your kids are being offered the vaccine because you live in an area where it is thought there could be a risk of TB. Your SIL doesn’t. It doesn’t matter matter if you can see her house from yours, she still doesn’t. As for the issue of a scar, that’s batshit

That makes no sense. Unless both SIL and me stayed wrapped in our own houses, that are minutes from each other, we do live in the same area.

Children go the same schools. Same leisure places. Same supermarkets and transport. Even the same bus stop ffs. All these places are, I presume, where we're likely to catch TB. No?

It wouldn't be my own road that's high risk, nor hers. As previously mentioned, it's a highly affluent, all white area. I myself am probably the least white person for roads and roads of houses. And I'm 3rd generation!

So, in theory and using the 'TB can be caught when out and about etc in the area', we do live in the same area. Everywhere we go is the same unless we're going out of town.

OP posts:
Skowvegas · 24/01/2018 14:07

Glumglowworm did write 'barring actual medical reasons of course...'

Yes I did notice that when I copied his/her comment.

Original poster
SandyBabyToes · 24/01/2018 14:07

Dotty It was to my understanding that over 75% of TB is immigration related?

Therefore, a very white area wouldn't really be at risk? Yes, children from all cultures mix which is why I find my SIL's case confusing. Purely because her children will mix with the same children mine do?

No form of nastiness was implied. If it's a daft comment, so be it. But I made that comment from info I had gathered. Nothing more.

OP posts:
Original poster
SandyBabyToes · 24/01/2018 14:09

If it is being offered in your area, I would take the offer up. The fact that it is not offered in your SILs area is shortsighted. Having been involved in discussions relating to resource allocation in the NHS, my impression is that many policy makers prioritise making "efficiency savings" over common sense or have a lack of imagination i.e. they can't imagine that kids who live in "safe" areas will mix with people who live in "at risk" areas...

I see, so it's just daft funding decisions and SIL's kids are actually just as at risk as mine then?

That seems a sensible answer.

OP posts:
Taylia · 24/01/2018 14:09

My grandmother had TB. It’s not a nice illness.

Worth a small scar to avoid it. I’d be grateful to be offered rather than annoyed.

Original poster
SandyBabyToes · 24/01/2018 14:11

Taylia I'm not annoyed, just confused.

I think I'm swaying more on the side of having it now, however, I'm curious and quite worried that my SIL hasn't been offered for her DC. Since we are the same area. We even share the same bus stop

OP posts:
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