Anyone's child had the BCG vacination, if so why?

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My son 5 yrs has been put forward for this by the school nurse as my father is Indian (Mother English) but has been in this country for over 50 years, we do not have any relatives that go back and forth to Indian so he doesnt mix with anyone therefore doesnt have the risk in my opinion of catching TB.

Nurse left a message ages ago on mob saying about it and he could have it at school and she would send a letter detailing. Not heard anything until yesterday when I got a letter from hospital to say take him. He would be petrified, plus I do not know the ins and outs of the vacination itself, side affects and if it is really necessary for him to have it.

Im really reluctant to let him have this as its not a particularly nice vacination to have anyway

What do others think?

I have a little freckle in my BCG scar. I do remember one boy's going huge and purple. Blee!

That sounds weird

It's standard for all babies where I live in London, my DS has chronic lung disease so important for him to have it. I don't know what age they normally do it though because he's had his jabs all out of order. It came up a bit green and nasty but is calming down now. Much better than him catching TB anyway!

I had it at school, got a flat white scar so I hope his will do the same in the end.

I had to have my children done when we moved from England to Ireland. Everybody has the bcg here, not sure why as I've never met anybody who has had TB.

But to reassure you..... it wasn't a massive big deal. They inject it quite slowly, it's not like a quick jab. My son did wriggle and cry but my daughter who was 5 at the time took it like a woman! Afterwards they both had a red mark on their arm for what seemed like ages, but I realise now that it's gone completely. I think I gave them both calpol that evening and was warned that they could feel feverish a fortnight later, but neither of them did. I don't remember feeling it was so terrible, and I wasn't 'geared up' for them having it.

hth

Er, magaly, do you not think the reason you've never met anyone with TB is because as you say 'everyone has the bcg here'

TB on the rise again, very standard vaccine which has been widely used for decades. My dad is a GP and very insistent that both my kids got it. Both kids had nasty blisters, but on the upside it means they should have very good immunity to TB should they encounter it.

DD1 was born in Kingston hospital - no BCG offered, never heard of it
DD2 was born 18 months later in West Mid hospital, 4 hours after she was born i had to pretty much wrestle the needle away from the doctor who was going to give her the BCG injection.

she just wouldn't take NO for an answer.

ridiculous.

my sister had it, had a massive reaction - whole arm swelled up and took 2 years to heal.

no i haven't. never even heard of anyone.
i am not anti-vacc and will let them have it when they are teenagers, like when we had it, or if incidences of it grow here, but at a few hours old i think it is an outrageous thing to do.

yes wham bam! durr, i thought that as I was pressing post!