TB risk and BCG vaccine

[Meow7854]

Hello, we’ve been OTF about this particular vaccine. BCG vaccine is only given in U.K. for babies of certain criteria , we do meet the one where 2 grandparents are from a higher risk country , but their travel to this country is uncommon. We have no plans to take our baby at any point and don’t see grandparents often. Baby is at home for the next few years , so trying to understand vaccine is necessary right now and whether benefits genuinely outweigh risks in our situation .

From reading, CDC in America only recommends it for children if prolonged contact with someone with untreated TB is unavoidable and the child can’t be treated , as its efficacy isn’t perhaps the best , it can skew test results etc - it seems like this vaccine is approached differently by countries .

Does anyone know if I am right or wrong in understanding TB isn’t caught that quickly ? NHS website “When someone with active TB coughs, they release small droplets containing the bacteria. You can catch TB if you regularly breathe in these droplets over a long period of time.”

Does anyone know exactly what this “long period of time” means ? The fact that it says “regularly” makes me wonder if one -off exposures in passing or for short periods, including flights, are not really a risk .

Did anyone wait and assess when your baby was a bit older and did it when there was actually more a risk present ? Or knows if there’s anything else I should take into account ? Ty!

I thought it was being offered as standard to babies again? We don't have any relatives from high risk countries and my youngest was offered and then had it shortly after birth. Maybe they have changed criteria again in last 3 years though. I know when I was born all babies had the vaccination before being discharged from hospital so I guess the guidance is always being updated.
I think it's about 8 hours so if you were sitting next to someone untreated on a long flight who was coughing then maybe.

Are you in London? They seem to offer it to all babies in London and other high TB patient areas.

I would take it if it was offered to my kids, the problem is increasing in this country.

@LuckysDadsHat
Yes I am, oh yes makes sense that TB rates are probably higher here. I knew that the extra polio booster was mostly just London but didn't realise TB was as it was standard when I was a baby although now I'm wondering whether that was because I was born in London too.

If you pay the BCG vaccine is available privately.

Think of it in terms of lifetime protection, rather than right now - you can manage risks when their young to an extent, however teenagers and young people in particular can be very cavalier about their health, and you never know what circumstances life can throw at you.

Mine had it as it's offered in Manchester due to rising rates. I think similar in Birmingham & London or defo was at one point .

OP sadly my Grandfather contracted TB and quickly died of it. He was white British and had never traveled anywhere exotic just the usual places for his age and cohort. (Europe tourist traps). By the time-it was picked up he was too weak to tolerate the major drug treatment.
As a result my 9 month old had to have a really long course if medication 6 or 9 months- can’t recall exactly) they were very scary times as he had to be monitored for liver damage.
After all this he had his TB jab which was perfectly ok and I am incredibly relived he now has protection against this deadly disease.

Showing my age here, it was only offered with the teenager vaccine when we where at school. I didn't realise they ever offered it with the baby vaccines. They had even stopped it while I was at school. I don't believe my kids have had it either, but then we aren't in London. Or any other large built up area.

My daughter in law is from Thailand, and they have a young baby here in the UK.
Because of the risk of TB in Thailand it was recommended that the baby had the BBG vaccination. He had it around 4 months old and has had no issue or side effects from it.
My son and DIL at the moment have no plans to travel to Thailand, but felt it was safer to have the vaccination now rather than wait, as it is giving the baby protection.

@NewtGuineaPig hi, now I believe it’s only if you meet certain criteria like being from an area with higher potential rates . Please can I ask where you got the info about 8 hours of exposure from please ? Technically that would mean anyone unvaccinated on an 8 hour or longer flight IS at risk !

My son caught TB at 4, from contact with a playmate at nursery who had been abroad. It was a nightmare for 18 months, and he is left with extensive scarring.
Take the vaccine.

I don't know any victims from "high risk" countries - all the victims I know are British and caught it in school.

Why would you not choose to protect your child? it is offered to all babies here (London) and again to any teen who missed it in babyhood

The information about exposure for 8 hours on a flight is correct. I would give your child the vaccine OP if they are in a higher risk category and therefore eligible to receive it.

I work in a hospital and I remember hearing the number at work. We would sometimes have TB patients and obviously have to take high infection control measures and I remember talking to a Dr about it.

I'm of an age where we all had it at school.

Weeks of fun comparing our scars.

Don't recall anyone being unwell, my scar is tiny now and I have to hunt for it.

All mine have had it, no side effects other than the pussy injection site for a few weeks and then a tiny scar.

I find it bizarre that if you’re born in London you have it but if you’re born outside of London (but your parents work in London and you go there often) you don’t need to have it. I guess they’re trying to draw a line somewhere but it seems odd to me.

DD had hers as a baby. No side effects , no issues. Just had to keep the area dry and clean until it scarred. Tiny little scar that matches mine.

We actually thought my dad had TB after he visited for a week(DD already had her jab ) , but sadly it was actually cancer. Still glad she had the vaccine.

I'm not in London but had grandparents so met the criteria. I was very pleased when both of mine had it. That was 11+ years ago. I can't see cases coming down in areas like London, only going up.
I'm pro vax though.

No it's not, it depends on area. If there's high incidence like London for example they do offer it as standard, but where we live it's virtually 0% so only offered to higher risk children (family from higher risk countries etc)

I would take it if offered though, it is on the rise in UK and if you have links to a higher risk country your baby may be exposed at some point in their lives

Both my children had it (husband and paternal grandparents used to live in a high risk country). No side effects and we're glad we chose to do it.

@CherryMaple please can I have the source for this ?!

@missedmyappointment hi, i mentioned our concerns in the post, whether we need to do it just yet or if it’s better to wait until baby is actually mixing more with people for longer periods, the fact that CDC seems to have opposite advice about it’s efficacy and need and their concern with it causing issues with false positive testing in future

@Icannotbudget so sorry to hear about that, if you don’t mind me asking did your baby have to be treated without knowing if he actually had TB ? Couldn’t a blood test or x ray show if he had TB ?