Grandmother born in Nigeria in 1949 - my DC (4 yrs / 21 month) told they have to have BCG

[basilbrush]

Ladies - I'm looking for advice.

We have just moved house to Wales and my DS has started nursery at the local school. My mother was born in Nigeria in 1949 (her parents worked out there) and lived there till she was 9. However, she has never been back or been visited by anyone from Nigeria.

The school says my DS (and his little sister) must be vaccinated against TB if they want to attend school in Wales because they are in a "high risk" group.

I think this is a little excessive?! Their Granny is now 60 and has never had TB or been back to Nigeria. I appreciate the vaccination is a good idea if you have family from a country with lots of TB and you go out there to visit them etc

In Scotland, when DS was born, we were allowed to decide whether he got the BCG and decided against it as risk so miniscule. Doctors actually advised us not to bother.

I know the health service is different in Wales but I am worried that my two young children will have to have a very nasty jab (I remember it well aged 13 and it took MONTHS to heal!) all because of a daft box I ticked on a form. I wish I had lied and siad his Granny was born in Basingstoke or something

Anyone know anything about this?

I don't know your legal position.

Our kids had bcg at age 5, 3, 14 months as we were travelling to a TB infected area (Central America). It actually wasn't as bad as all that for them, nothing like the fuss I remember everyone in my class causing when we were 13.

Dd2 got hers infected and it burst - that was vile. But it was OK overall, and actually it is quite hard to get now in some areas at 13, so I was glad mine had had it. TB is generally on the rise in the UK again and though bcg as a jag isnt perfect, its better than nothing, IMO.

But I don't think they can say you can't go to school cos you haven't had it - that's crazy!

I don't know about Wales..but I don't think they can say you HAVE to have a vacination to attend school in England.

I had the same issue with DS2, as his grandfather was born in one of the countries on the form....I didn't tick it as I didn't want him to have the jab. Funnily enough, my other 2 DC have never been offered the jab, only DS"
It does seem excesive, and ridiculous.

Hmm not sure about your position but both of my dc had it aged 5/6 weeks and it was absolutely fine. DD had no reaction and ds' came up and blistered 4 months later which worried me but apparently is normal-he didn't even seem to notice either the jab or the reaction.

Mine aged 13 though was horrific.

Ask them to quote the legislation that their statement comes from. You'll then be able to check this out for yourself prior to having any jabs done.

I'm pretty sure that vaccination is not mandatory for schools in this country (the UK) and especially not a vaccination that is not on the paediatric schedule anyway.

That said, is there any reason why you don't want them to have the BCG? Mine had it at 8 weeks and we are not high risk group - it's just as we live in inner London it is recommended. The injection site looks a bit blistered a few weeks later and then it eventually fades down.

I asked about giving my kids the jab, because their grandmother actually had TB, but the NHS said it wasn't necessary.

If ds had been offered the BCG I'd take it gladly. The policy of only providing it in high risk areas is daft - just because we live in the suburbs doesn't mean ds will never be coughed on or travel into areas with higher rates of TB. It's a disease that is very, very easy to catch and if you are exposed, treatment is a pain in the bum - months of drugs. I'd far rather ds had the jab. (I had it at school and it was no biggy.)