TB injection!!!!

[The_Economist]

Has anybody tried to get there child imunized against TB since they decided that they are not going to do it any more as a matter of course at school.
I spoke to a nurse advisor about it and she said that the risk of infection is now lower than ever (yeh right!!!). Has anybody got any thoughts or concerns on this matter.

[frivolous_fay]

I heard that the TB jab wears off after about 10 years, so I can't say I'm sorry my mum refused to let me have it.

[The_Economist]

I heard that the TB jab wears off after about 10 years, so I can't say I'm sorry my mum refused to let me have it.

Not heard that before. As the old saying goes prevention is better than cure, no matter how long it lasts. I think everyone should get the jab. But its finding out how to get it done on the NHS.

[nuttywoman]

Daughter had to pay for her TB jab early on this year because she was moving to South Korea. It cost her about £40 plus she had to go into next town to have it done by a TB nurse.
It would have been done at school but for some reason they stopped doing it when she was 12 or 13 .

[jackieb]

When was it stopped? My son had it earlier this year at school. I'd no idea it had been stopped.

My mum was in hospital for 2 years when she was in her 20's, with TB. Her sister died of it when she was 17.

[squibbs25]

My son was given the TB jab at 6 weeks old (we lived in London, apparently tb was on the rise and they were trying to protect the babies) and when we moved to Sussex a couple of weeks later the health team down here were very suprised that it had been done.
London team said he would not need the jab in his teens, yet down here they wont aknowlege that it has been done. :confused: BUT if it's been scrapped it dont matter. LOL

[msmicawber]

I've been trying to find out about this too. Apparently, in our area only those children considered 'at risk' are now immunised. However, I haven't found out who takes the decision as to who is considered at risk, and all I've been able to find out so far is that children whose parents were born abroad in countries where TB is prevalent, or who have had TB themselves will be tested. I decided it's best to go and speak to my GP about it.

[isme]

I only found out about this by talking to other mums in the playground! Apparently there is such a low level of risk they have decided to scrap it altogether. I have heard that you CAN get it done on the NHS but not just because you want to as a matter of precaution,you have to be able to demonstrate that your child is at risk of developing TB.

Im just waiting for the mass panic when TB becomes on the increase again and they realise that a whole generation isnt protected..... cynical? me? ...

[ka7e]

DD (18) was one of the last in our area to have the TB jab done at school. Strangely it doesn't show up on her list of immunisations held by her GP.
She started a Midwifery course in London this year and had to prove she had immunity. As 20% of immunised people still show no antibodies, it can only be verified by a blood test.

[sooz]

My son was given the TB jab at 6 weeks old (we lived in London, apparently tb was on the rise and they were trying to protect the babies) and when we moved to Sussex a couple of weeks later the health team down here were very suprised that it had been done.
London team said he would not need the jab in his teens, yet down here they wont aknowlege that it has been done. :confused: BUT if it's been scrapped it dont matter. LOL


At the hospital where I had my youngest, the surrounding area is considered so high risk (London) that he had his TB jab at 6 hours old, just before we left to go home!

[squibbs25]

At the hospital where I had my youngest, the surrounding area is considered so high risk (London) that he had his TB jab at 6 hours old, just before we left to go home!

Can i be nosey, what borough were you under? We were Waltham Forest.

[Terrylw1]

Not heard that before. As the old saying goes prevention is better than cure, no matter how long it lasts. I think everyone should get the jab. But its finding out how to get it done on the NHS.

I've been told it wears off after this time. However, when you go into A&E with something that could make you at risk, they give you a booster e.g. a dog bite or a cut caused by a rusty nail etc.

I agree, everyone should get it. TB is still around, more so abroad but with more people coming to live over here - is it checked?

[sooz]

I've been told it wears off after this time. However, when you go into A&E with something that could make you at risk, they give you a booster e.g. a dog bite or a cut caused by a rusty nail etc.

I agree, everyone should get it. TB is still around, more so abroad but with more people coming to live over here - is it checked?


I think you mean tetanus, not (BCG vaccine against) TB

[jimsmum]

My DS is having his next week, hes been called to have it along with others.(dipheria,tetanus,polio,HIB booster and mmr 2 etc)
Its apparently normal for them to have it at 3 and a half round here.

[sooz]

Can i be nosey, what borough were you under? We were Waltham Forest.

He was born at Queen Charlottes - but we don't live near it (only prisoners and council estates around...nice birth centre though) :D

[cannylass]

I've been told it wears off after this time. However, when you go into A&E with something that could make you at risk, they give you a booster e.g. a dog bite or a cut caused by a rusty nail etc.



Think you are getting the BCG (for TB-respiratory infection), mixed up with tetanus which can be contracted from contaminated soil.

[bonar]

sorry terry u are getting confused if you cut yourself and attend a/e it's TETANUS that you get.
TB is vaccination against tuberculosis. I had one child vaccinated at addenbrooke's as he was off sick at time of school vaccine. second child was also going to attend addenbrooke's however we decided that it was best to get it done privately (about £40) well worth the money bearing in mind it involved 2 visits once to check for immunity. next to get vaccine.

My understanding is that TB is on the increase so well worth getting.

[jimsmum]

wonder if you lot know if the polio one is still done in liquid form ??

[cannylass]

wonder if you lot know if the polio one is still done in liquid form ??

as far as i know, jims mum, it isn't.
the liquid one was a "live" vaccine and as such, always was a risk of unimmunised carer contracting polio from faeces of immunised baby. is now available as "killed" vaccine, in with diptheria and tetanus. can also be obtained as a jab on it's own for travellers.:D

[jimsmum]

as far as i know, jims mum, it isn't.
the liquid one was a "live" vaccine and as such, always was a risk of unimmunised carer contracting polio from faeces of immunised baby. is now available as "killed" vaccine, in with diptheria and tetanus. can also be obtained as a jab on it's own for travellers.:D
thanks.:D
think DS would have probably spat it out!

[The_Economist]

I've been trying to find out about this too. Apparently, in our area only those children considered 'at risk' are now immunised. However, I haven't found out who takes the decision as to who is considered at risk, and all I've been able to find out so far is that children whose parents were born abroad in countries where TB is prevalent, or who have had TB themselves will be tested. I decided it's best to go and speak to my GP about it.

I think i will have to speak to our GP to about it. I realy am not happy that they have stopped the school injections. I think it is a cost cutting excersise to try and save a few pennies now but as isme says, just waiting for the mass panic when TB becomes on the increase again and they realise that a whole generation isnt protected..... By that time it could cost hundreds of thousands in care, and a lot of needless suffering and fear.

[point3]

The reasons for stopping routine BCG vaccination in schools in the UK are explained in this article from the British Medical Journal, 2005:

http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/331/7518/647

The BCG vaccination program in schools ran for 50 years up until Autumn 2005. When the program was introduced in the 1950s, the chance of developing TB each year in the UK was 2% (1 in every 50 people). The risk of developing TB in the UK today is now less than 1 in 1000 people per year.

Those at most risk of developing TB come from a readily identifiable segment of the population - a 'targetted' vaccination program was thus considered more appropriate. BCG vaccination is now offered to infants in communities where the incidence of TB is 40 per 100,000 people, or whose parents or grandparents come from countries where the incidence is more than 40 per 100,000 people. Healthcare workers, travellers to and from countries of high prevalence and other 'contact risk' groups are also offered the vaccination.

[jackieb]

Well it couldn't have been the TB injection my son got earlier this year. I honestly thought it was. I'll have to look out the card he got from school.

[Savvy_Sue]

Well it couldn't have been the TB injection my son got earlier this year. I honestly thought it was. I'll have to look out the card he got from school.How old was he? They give Rubella (German Measles) in their teens.

[pulliptears]

I tried to get the TB vaccine for my son about 18 months ago, I tried everywhere, even privately and nowhere would do it.

It annoys me greatly that TB is on the increase yet I cant have my child inoculated against it :(

[msmicawber]

Well it couldn't have been the TB injection my son got earlier this year. I honestly thought it was. I'll have to look out the card he got from school.

Could it have been the combined Diptheria/Tetanus/Polio booster? They give that at about 13 or 14.

[jackieb]

He's 14. It was probably one of them. God, i'm a bad mother - I don't even know what he's getting injected with!

[The_Economist]

The reasons for stopping routine BCG vaccination in schools in the UK are explained in this article from the British Medical Journal, 2005:

http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/331/7518/647

The BCG vaccination program in schools ran for 50 years up until Autumn 2005. When the program was introduced in the 1950s, the chance of developing TB each year in the UK was 2% (1 in every 50 people). The risk of developing TB in the UK today is now less than 1 in 1000 people per year.

Those at most risk of developing TB come from a readily identifiable segment of the population - a 'targetted' vaccination program was thus considered more appropriate. BCG vaccination is now offered to infants in communities where the incidence of TB is 40 per 100,000 people, or whose parents or grandparents come from countries where the incidence is more than 40 per 100,000 people. Healthcare workers, travellers to and from countries of high prevalence and other 'contact risk' groups are also offered the vaccination.




Thanks for that link, interesting reading. Still not convinced that they should have stopped it though.

[The_Economist]

I tried to get the TB vaccine for my son about 18 months ago, I tried everywhere, even privately and nowhere would do it.

It annoys me greatly that TB is on the increase yet I cant have my child inoculated against it :(

I agree we should have the right to get our kids inoculated against it. I am willing to pay for it if needs be. I still say prevention is better than cure.

[pulliptears]

I agree we should have the right to get our kids inoculated against it. I am willing to pay for it if needs be. I still say prevention is better than cure.

Agree completely, Id be more than willing to pay anyone to do this, its incredibly frustrating that the government is seemingly making these decisions without consulting parents first.

Id rather not take the risk, and I shall continue to try and track down someone that will do this for me.

[msmicawber]

He's 14. It was probably one of them. God, i'm a bad mother - I don't even know what he's getting injected with!

I know you're only joking, but I don't think you're a bad mum - you were offered an opportunity to have your child innoculated against something so he could avoid an avoidable illness and you took it. Just because you can't remember exactly what it was without looking at the paperwork doesn't matter. I'm all for kids developing a good immune system, but getting any boosts that are available.