BCG vaccine

[doireallyneedaname]

I’ve just remembered that I was told this isn’t routine anymore.

I’m quite frustrated as I had it 30 odd years ago and I think I would like my 1 year old to have it too.

Has anyone had it done privately? Have we missed the boat? I read something saying it was given under the age of 1, then others saying under 35!?

We didn't have it done privately but we did have it on the NHS - it's routinely offered at my hospital (London) because it's felt to be higher risk. The HV did say that if we didn't want it in hospital (it's given on the day they're born), we could have it at a later date albeit it would have been harder to track down an appointment. She didn't put a timeframe on it but I can't see why it would be too late at a year.

Is it that you think your child may be more at risk? My children were given them at birth because my in laws travel back and forth to Hong Kong a lot, which is higher risk

I don’t think he’s at immediate risk, but he could be in the future so surely it’s best to just have it?

I’m assuming the changes have been made due to the budget rather than anything else.

Are there any reasons not to get it?

When they gave BCGs out in my age group it was when we were 10.

Neither of my kids have had it as they are low risk for contact with TB

I had the BCG jab as a teenager as did dh

@doireallyneedaname

I don’t think he’s at immediate risk, but he could be in the future so surely it’s best to just have it?

I’m assuming the changes have been made due to the budget rather than anything else.

Are there any reasons not to get it?

It's cost vs risk. For most people, the risk is very very low and therefore it's not worth the cost. If you're at a higher risk - generally because of where you live - the cost becomes worth it.

My eldest got the bcg on nhs with some difficulty and long queues as my oh was potentially taking a job in hong kong. By the time i had my second they had phased out bcg for all but most vulnerable. We paid privately for it to be done, i think she was about 8m old when we got it.