Is BCG still available by the percutaneous method...anywhere?

[Levanna]

When my DD1 had her BCG 2 years ago, it was administered by the percutaneous method (a stamp similar to the heaf test, then the vaccine was squirted over the top, and was absorbed through the broken skin). I have been told that it is now administered just under the skin, the method that is painful and causes the problematic blister. Does anyone know if the percutaneous method is still used anywhere? If not, I'm tempted not to let DD2 have it at all, it was the single most painful injection I ever remember having!
Also, does anyone know why babies have to be immunised by the time they are 12 weeks? DD2 has been given an appointment for the day before her 12 weeks are up, and I would rather she have a heaf test to determine whether the vaccine is necessary at all, though of course given the 12 week rule there wouldn't be any time .

well, you can argue about the need for BCG in the first place. I am from a country where it is not done routinely and when I started working in the UK I had a long row at my workplace because I refused it.
Anyway, I understand that in the UK it is given at schoolage, unless you belong to a high risk group where you are given it as a baby. My ds and dd belong to that risk group as they travel/will travel to asia before schoolage.
To avoid them having a heaftest which would be likely to be negative and as theywouldhave it at a later age anyway I was keen to have it done before 3 months!
Can't help you with the "percutanous" test. For what it's worth, ds had the percut one and dd the other one and don't think they cried more orless with one or the other....

Which country are you in Levanna? My dd hasn't had the BCG here in the UK as it's given at school age. However, I had the subcutaneous version of the BCG myself (ie. just under the skin) not so long ago and it didn't hurt at all - much less painful than a normal vaccination. Obviously the blister afterwards can be a bit tender to the touch, but otherwise no big problem.

Levanna I couldn't find it done in my area of London for ds2 last year, although ds1 had it donw the way your dd1 did 3 years ago. So he hasn't had it.

The alternative was the blister method but he would have had to go to the TB clinic in Tottehnam for that - er no thanks, don't really want a small baby hanging round a busy infectious disease clinic

This reminds me to get it sorted out over here, maybe they do it the non blister way

just looked at the dept of health website and it seems they have withdrawn one type of BCG vaccination and are now using a different type (aug/sept 2002).
"SSI" does not produse a vaccin that can be given by the multiple puncture technique, so all (inc babies) must be administered intradermally

Levanna - both ds1 and ds2 had the normal method of administering BCG and didn't really suffer at all. They've both got a small scar now but it didn't particularly blister or scab at the time (neither did mine when I had it at school).

DS3 is having his next week at 12 wks old.

Distracted - it is done in the UK for babies but depends on where you live and the population of that area whether it's automatically offered.

Thank you for your replies. I had a lengthy search last night only to find what lailag managed to source today! The manufacturor that the DoH formally used did make the vaccine for administration by the percutaneous method. But there were concerns over the quality of their products and after several batches had to be recalled they (DoH) changed to a Swedish manufacturor (SSI) who only produce the vaccine for the intra dermal (blister) method . We do live in what is considered to be a high risk area so it's recommended that babies are vaccinated.
Thank you for posting positive (as far as jabs go!) experiences of the blister method, it does make me feel slightly more comfortable with it - it now seems as it's the only method of BCG vaccine administration here in the U.K.
Thanks for your help.