Has anyone got BCG vaccine privately for their baby?

[Theeasypeasywoman]

Hello, If anyone has got BCG vaccine privately for their baby please share your experience. I was referred twice for BCG when my kid was born last month and the hospital says they have lost the referral form/they don't have it and now they are saying that it takes couple of months to get BCG once referred !! Such a pathetic service when midwife and national guideline says that child needs to get BCG vaccine before he/she is 6 weeks old !! Having such a bad experience with NHS !

Are you in an area that has cases of TB?
It's not given as standard where I am

I am in Cheshire but I am originally from India and plan to visit soon

Trailfinders used to offer this, but it seems their travel clinic isn’t up and running fully again.

Not close to Cheshire but Hampstead Heath Pharmacy in London are offering it for £100 which seems reasonable if it’s required - they might have a contact closer to you
hhpharmacy.co.uk/bcg-vaccine/

One of mine was born during the time of national shortage and our local health authority was also pretty useless at organising the unlicensed one so I went and had it privately when she was around 6 months old. We went to a local private hospital (live near London so have plenty of choice fortunately). Was a pretty straightforward and painless experience.

Like you, we should have been eligible through NHS due to parents' country of birth but there was no sign of them getting their act together, let alone clearing the backlog

Where in Cheshire are you? In Chester you could try the wellness centre or there's a well travelled clinic.

Keep trying. All ours got them within a few days of birth. 2 before we left the hospital, and the other (when there was a shortage) we got a call 3 days after birth saying "if you can get here quick, we've got a dose going spare", so it might be worth phoning around and seeing if anyone can fit you in if they have a cancellation etc.

Good luck! I hope you find a dose :)

Just to update for anyone who is struggling to get BCG, I asked my health visitor to get us referred for BCG last week and she did and I got a letter today from nhs nurse and she is coming to my house to give BCG vaccine to my baby next week. if anyone struggling, try via your health visitor and it might be quicker to get it.

I didn't know about the timeline. I wonder if it's a new thing. DD got hers closer to 6 months and we were referred by the HV after one of the visits.

I would have thought you would need to go to a travel vaccine clinic as it's not part of the schedule here. It was given at 13 years ago so certainly not before 6 weeks. It seems your hv has offered it but im surprised as its fit travel, and that's not covered by the nhs

It is covered by the NHS for babies with a heritage from a country with a high enough level of TB, as they can be exposed to TB from visiting relatives, as well as from travel.

My LO is 9 months and we were offered it in the hospital straight after she was born