TB vaccine - Advice please!!

[larnieperty89]

Any help on this would be greatly appreciated.

My daughter is 4 weeks old & has been offered the TB vaccination in a couple of weeks. My partner, her dad is Kenyan so there is a higher chance of her coming into contact with the disease in her life as she's more likely to be around people from Kenya.
Anyway I'm in two minds whether to have her vaccinated. We won't be going to Kenya ourselves for a good few years & a lot of her family live here & rarely travel back now. Also I just feel she is so young to have it when it may be unescary until I know she will come into contact with a family member from Kenya.
Help!!

Is TB prevalence high where you live? If so it is probably worth it when combined with avoiding having it later if you do visit Kenya or have family over. My two both had it simply because they were born in high risk areas but the risk of catching it in the Uk is actually very low, though case numbers are rising.

Try www.tbalert.org which is a UK based TB charity for up to date info.

Thank you Funchum ?? no it's not prevalent where we live, was it particularly traumatic when your little ones had it?
I just remember having it as a teenager & my arm hurt for days so I'm worried she'll be in pain - obviously better than the risk of TB!
Thank you for the website

I think that it isn't offered as a routine vaccine anymore is shocking...can't believe it was sneaked in the way it was (in 2005 iirc).
It used to be prevalent in the UK - it isn't anymore because of the vaccination program...why stop it when the disease is on the increase in the UK? (apart from cost) If we hadn't continued vaccinating against small pox it wouldn't have been eradicated.

We live in a global world, people move around the world - and the country - just because you are born somewhere low risk doesn't mean you won't go on to live somewhere (even in the UK) high risk - or eg have a relationship with someone from a high risk country/area.
(I had it as a routine one as a teen. I live in low risk area in the UK ...but I used to share a small office with someone born in a high risk country, met her family when visiting several times etc ...sure it was still a low risk but still an illustration of how stupid the low risk area idea is)
My DCs were born when it was still offered as a teen or in the process of being changed. DD2 was offered it when she was 6 (took them that long to pick her up) she was offered it because of the country of origin of DP's parents. They had missed DD1 (12) altogether...
DP's parents were born in a high risk country but DP was born in a low risk country where his parents lived for over 50 yrs. DCs rarely see their paternal grandmother (GF is dead), we have never been to the high risk country or had visitors from there and are very unlikely to. (We would like to go but the current situation there is such that I can't foresee that happening for a number of years -if ever.)
Therefore they didn't really 'need it' - but I got them done. Apparently the vaccine is not 100% effective but it is even less effective if given as an adult. If you go to a high risk country as an adult you will need to have it (will have to pay as a travel vaccine) and it will be even less effective... to me it was a no brainer.
If you feel it is overload when she is so little and having so many vaccines and you can delay it for a year or something - I'd be tempted - otherwise I'd have it whilst you can.

If the vaccine is being offered, I would take it. As unlucky says, TB remains a problem and drug resistant TB and childhood complications are scary. My DD had it at a month as we were in central London. She seemed to suffer no discomfort, though did develop an absolutely delightful volcanic abscess.

Both my DDs have had it at 24 hours old. No side effects apart from a delayed scarring - tiny. It's a no brainer to have it!

I was given it as a routine vac in the 70's in a low risk underpopulated country. I now live in London and both my children have been offered and received as a routine vac. From your family background it sounds like a no brainer as she'll need it eventually. No idea if it has to be done to a 4wo though. I think DD2 was 16 weeks as I was busy...
Worth bearing in mind the delayed reaction though. I was told not to put creams etc on it or cover it up with a plaster. It was the dead of winter but it could make sunscreen an issue with an older child who is running around.

Thank you so much for all your advice I think I'd rather be safe than sorry in this scenario so looks like she'll be having it