Why don't they do the BCG injection in the leg?! So the scaring isn't seen?

[omikron]

My friend has just mentioned this and we can't work out why they wouldn't do it in the leg?!

Does it matter? It’s not exactly a ugly scar.

@Coffeeandchocolate9 I remember the popping sound when one of my children’s pustule burst.

My mum had a vaccination in her leg, she said it was her tb jab.

I think, if i was to be one of the people who was going to get a big open sore, it would be less aggravated on my arm than my leg?

They did my kids in the arm a few weeks before the 8 week injections - and said they didnt want them in the legs incase the next vacs went onto of the BCG site.

That 6 needle test isnt done any more, I dont think. It's one bigger needle under the skin and look for a reaction.

BogglesGoggles

Does it matter? It’s not exactly a ugly scar.

This !!

I imagine it’s to do with irritation as well. Trousers are generally harsher material and more likely to aggravate/burst the pustule. You are meant to preserve the pus as long as possible to ensure immunity

@jennymanara

If you don’t have scar you may not have the immunity.

When I had occy health checks done for my work I was made to have another bcg as i’d not reacted enough to the one given at school, and no scar was left as proof. I definitely reacted the second time though, I had a weird tiny abscess thing for a few weeks that leaked all kinds of gross gunge.

Maybe so 100 school kids don't have to get their arses out!

I haven't got any scar from my bcg so the argument that it provides evidence of vaccination can't be true.

My son had it done at birth and his scar is fairly large (top of arm).

When my daughter had hers at 4 weeks old we was told she can't have anymore injections in the same site for a certain amount of time. I presume as the 8/16 week injections go in the leg that's maybe why they don't offer it in the leg automatically?

Did anyone else get a weird test about a week before the jab, with little needles jabbing a pattern on your arm? I seem to remember you only got the bcg if the pre-test reacted a certain way.

This was 25 years ago so I'm a bit hazy!

For some reason I never had the BCG! I'm in Ireland. In my 40s. I've a feeling I was out the day it was given in school and then never had it! Have no scar on my arm like everyone else in my family.

Mine is in my leg. It was the norm when I was at school to choose, but everyone who had it on the leg had far worse scars and they look awful now.

Really, a scar..

Such a good idea! My scar is enormous as is my husbands- we are both very pale so I've always thought it might be that.

I'll request leg for our kids for sure!

" Aren't most people's tiny?"

Mine is a crater in my arm that can be seen from space.

Mine is a crater in my arm that can be seen from space.

Fair enough

Don't worry I have tons of other scars that are very obvious! Just not this one

Did anyone else get a weird test about a week before the jab, with little needles jabbing a pattern on your arm? I seem to remember you only got the bcg if the pre-test reacted a certain way.

Yes, we all did (mine was a LOT longer than 25 years ago ).
You all lined up and it was a bit like a library stamp on your arms.

I guess this is why we all had them in our arms - all lining up, one injection after the other - would have been a right faff getting the whole school year to strip off.

It's hardly an 'ugly scar' though is it - small mark at the top of your arm.

mine is a big pock mark/crater about 2 inches diameter...

(not surprising as the vaccine 'mother' is a pock virus)

At least these days it's only one scar, I have the three in a triangle. Doesn't bother me though, it's just little circles, there's nothing unpleasant about it.

I remember DD's being a massive green crusty mess for a solid 8 months, it was fascinating.

It's so that health professionals will know if you've had the vaccine.

My clinic gives several TB Skin Tests and the vaccine can give a false positive (and in some cases a large painful bump), but people generally do not know if they had the vaccine or not. If you have not, and have a positive reaction, I'm concerned you have TB. If you have a positive post vaccine you just need a chest x-ray to confirm no TB.

And in areas where TB is high it can be much more important.

I feel shortchanged as mine didn't burst or produce pus.
My scar is only small but I've seen huge ones.
None of kids have had it.
I remember load in my school fainting at the hooky needle stamp thing and one kids arm swelled up loads after that.

The test was to check if you had TB. Although if you had come into contact with it and fought it off, it could show positive. All those who had a positive result had t have a chest x ray. A mobile x ray unit came to our school.

My scar is huge and still bright red over 20 years later. I have always felt very self conscious wearing sleeveless tops or short sleeves. I would never do that in a professional environment. Not the biggest deal but I wouldn't let my kids have it in their arm.