BCG's is there any clear information available?

[Niamh1977]

I tried to do some internet research on the reasoning behind the NHS current policy of BCG vaccination. All I can find are medical research papers, or basic information on how the vaccine works, this is not what I am after.
I want to know simply how likely my son would be to pick up TB (1 in a hundred, 1 in a thousand, 1 in a million!?) If he is not vaccinated, versus how likely he will be, statistically, to have any complications to do with having the vaccine. Also, for how many years have they been able to gather evidence on the effects of vaccinating newborns- is this a new thing? Or is there evidence on safety from other countries that might reassure me. I want some figures so that I can logically weigh the risk and make an informed choice. Anyone come across anything useful?

Lots of info here.

My DD was in contact with TB (via a nursery worker) at 8 months old. They thought she might have caught it as she'd had the jab a few weeks before and so reacted strongly to her heaf test. It was a serious business (chest xrays, blood tests etc) but the specialist at the hospital told me that in some areas of London rates of TB infection now rival the third world.

TB is life-ruining, so while I do wonder whether the BCG may have been a contributory factor in an infection my DD went on to develop (through her BCG "spot" that didn't heal for yonks) I have absolutely no evidence of that and would still vaccinate her if I could have my time again.

I should also say that in the last 4 years we've had THREE letters from the public health people saying one of us has been in contact with TB. It's not terribly infectious in the scheme of things, but still quite alarming.

get the vacine,it's not such a rare illness anymore and the treatment can go on for years better safe than sorry.

Has your son been offered the vaccine?I live in se London where TB is on the rise.
My ds is about to have the vaccine (dd had it done too at a few months). I am pro vaccinations so mine have had everything offered,apart from Swine Flu.

The likelihood of catching TB depends largely on where you live.

Also if you or members of your family come from an area endemic with TB or you plan to emigrate, stay or travel to a TB-endemic country for more than 3 months then BCG vaccination would be recommended.

This may be helpful

In London, it varies from borough to borough depending on migration/travel etc and how prevalent it is in the area. It takes a long time to treat a case (months) and so infection during this time is always possible.
Do you live in a high risk area OP?

I would've had my DC vaccinated but moved out of a high-risk area. And I worked with TB patients.