Immunizations... question

I'm not sure if I'm posting this in the right section so feel free to move if need be.

I am working for the NHS at a hospital with adults with brain injuries. Basically, Occupational Health wants to see the immunizations I've had as a child and see what I may need to have done here. I gave the lady my record that I received from my mom and she asked me if I had the jab in my arm (BCG). Well, I told her that I don't have a mark on my arm and that I've never seen any American with a scar so I wasn't sure if I'd had it, etc. She is concerned mostly because I don't have the scar which leads her to believe I don't have that immunization. I'm just concerned now. Do we get the BCG or something similar to that in America that may not cause a scar?
If anyone can come along to help here that would be great. She was saying if I haven't had it than usually after you turn 25 it doesn't really work so I may not want to have it done...??

BCG is the immunisation for tuberculosis. The US hasn't done it as a required immunisation for decades, so it's very likely you don't have it.

Isn't that the TB vaccine? I don't think the US uses BCG, but if you worked with children/at risk populations in the past in the US you would have, at the least, been tested for TB and if you came up positive they would have treated? I remember a nursing friend telling me that the US isn't as into the BCG vaccine for some reason.

(Ah! Found it! Wikipedia link here: [url]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bacillus_Calmette-Gu%C3%A9rin]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bacillus_Calmette-Gu%C3%A9rin] [url]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bacillus_Calmette-Gu%C3%A9rin[/url])

oops! X-posted with Dr Super!

you probably want to talk to your doctor or ask them for more information
I had this done when I was a kid
basically they have to test you first before they give it to you
because if you are positive for tuberculin you don't need the vaccine (in fact I think it might be harmful for you)
If you had the vaccine, you basically have like 2 patches of 9 red dots on you.
They use a stamper with 9 needles on it and pop it on your upper arm twice.
As you get older they fade a bit but you can definitely see it.
(This was like when I was 5 maybe they got sophisticated in the last 20 years...)
best to ask a professional for more info

It was never used in the US on a wide scale. 

http://www.cdc.gov/tb/publications/factsheets/prevention/BCG.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bacillus_Calmette-Gu%C3%A9rin

you probably want to talk to your doctor or ask them for more information
I had this done when I was a kid
basically they have to test you first before they give it to you
because if you are positive for tuberculin you don't need the vaccine (in fact I think it might be harmful for you)
If you had the vaccine, you basically have like 2 patches of 9 red dots on you.
They use a stamper with 9 needles on it and pop it on your upper arm twice.
As you get older they fade a bit but you can definitely see it.
(This was like when I was 5 maybe they got sophisticated in the last 20 years...)
best to ask a professional for more info

I'm pretty sure I had that done (mid-70s) and I don't have a scar. I always thought the big scar was the old smallpox vaccine... my mom and aunts all have that.

Most people in the US were tested for TB.

You got stamped with a tine and then they came back and looked at it a week or so later to see if there was a reaction.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tine_test

Unless you had someone in the family who had TB, or someone likely to be exposed, then you most probably did not receive it as a child. 

I'm pretty sure I had that done (mid-70s) and I don't have a scar. I always thought the big scar was the old smallpox vaccine... my mom and aunts all have that.

According to the Wiki page:
BCG immunization leaves a characteristic raised scar that is often used as proof of prior immunization. The scar of BCG immunization must be distinguished from that of small pox vaccination which it may resemble.

If you don't have a scar, you didn't get it.

I had this done in the late 80s since they required all the people who immigrated to the States to get one.  My sister who was born in the States did not have to get one. (go figure)

Yes, I just found out from my mom that I had about 4 tests for TB as a child but never a vaccine. I guess the US does not have us do it? Maybe over here people are more likely to be exposed to TB. The lady told me that if I do the vaccine now, it will most likely not be affective. I am not sure what to do if I'm working in a hospital and it is easily spreadable! Any recommendations?

Yes, I just found out from my mom that I had about 4 tests for TB as a child but never a vaccine. I guess the US does not have us do it? Maybe over here people are more likely to be exposed to TB. The lady told me that if I do the vaccine now, it will most likely not be affective. I am not sure what to do if I'm working in a hospital and it is easily spreadable! Any recommendations?

This is why I said you need to consult a doctor/nurse or at least get the test done to find out.  Some people are positive with the tuberculine meaning they already HAVE immunity to the disease and hence don't need the vaccine.  I could be wrong but if you have immunity and take the vaccine, you might end up getting ill.  So did you take the test and find out you didn't need it so you didn't get the vaccine?  Or were you tested positive and have immunity so you didn't take the shot?  I'm afraid I don't really know about it not being effective.

In the US, they tend to treat TB as/when it shows up, as opposed to vaccinating, so the fact that she was tested but not treated means she probably never had it. Definitely check with your GP as to what this means for you!

Usually in the US, if you work in healthcare, you'll have the Mantoux test done every year.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mantoux_test

It says it's used in the UK, so if the vaccine is likely to be ineffective for you, perhaps arrangements could be made to be screened at regular intervals?