Why BCG vaccination is important and it’s side effects
BCG vaccination or Bacillus Calmette Guerin vaccination is used against TB or tuberculosis. If TB is common in your native areas, then it is important to vaccinate the child against tuberculosis. A single dose of BCG will be enough for healthy babies and BCG is the one and only vaccination against TB.
Mostly used on children and adults who are not given this as kids BCG is readily available readily, inexpensive and safe. It can prevent the occurrence of TB and normally the kids or babies are vaccinated.
BCG offers a sound protection against various forms of tuberculosis or TB including Tuberculosis Meningitis. Among all the vaccines for TB, BCG is most widely used. More than 80% of infants and newborn in the countries have access to this vaccine. WHO or World Health Organization monitors the coverage of the vaccine in every nation. The vaccine is used only in places where there is high probability of getting tuberculosis.
Tuberculosis skin test on the one vaccinated
The one who is vaccinated for TB usually shows positive result to the TB skin test. This makes it even more difficult to find if someone is suffering from latent TB or not. It is the reason why TB vaccination is not that used in certain countries.
So, it makes sense to give skin test before vaccinating. If the skin test gives positive result, this shows that the person has immunity to Tuberculosis. If there is already immunity to TB, the vaccination will not be used. Indeed, if the person has immunity to TB, there will be unpleasant side effects to this vaccination. So, the skin test must be done before the use of vaccination. If the result is negative, the person has to be vaccinated.
Safety issues associated with TB vaccination
When the vaccination was used in the earlier days or years back, there were safety concerns. It can’t still be used on immune-compromised kids or kids with HIV. This is so because there is Mycobacterium bovisin BCG vaccine. But, this live bacteria is not the same as the bacteria which causes TB.
Who should use the vaccination?
TB vaccination is solely meant for National Health Service for kids, babies and adults below 35 years of age. People below the age of 35 years are at a greater risk of getting tuberculosis. It can’t be given to people above 35 years of age. It is highly recommended for the babies born in an area where the risk of TB is very high. Older children at a risk of TB may be vaccinated against tuberculosis. Anyone under the age of 16 belonging to an area where tuberculosis is widespread may be vaccinated. Anyone who is already vaccinated, can’t get vaccinated once again. Then, anyone showing positive skin test to vaccination cannot get vaccinated either. Anyone suffering from a septic skin condition should not be injected on the affected area. The one who is using steroid tablets or taking chemotherapy cannot be injected. The person who is seriously ill cant use the vaccination and also pregnant women should avoid it.
At the site of the injection, there may some sort of pain or scarring. Raised scars are indeed the prominent side effects. The person can be vaccinated in the home itself. Even the CBC blood test may be performed right at the comfort of one’s home.
