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Topic: Men C and BCG (tuberculosis) vaccines  (Read 1150 times)

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Men C and BCG (tuberculosis) vaccines
« on: November 21, 2011, 06:36:59 PM »
Hey!
We're visiting our nurse practitioner tomorrow to work out vaccines for our 3 y.o.  For the form they had us fill out, it appears that we're missing Men C vaccines, and a BCG (tuberculosis at birth). I phoned our states pedi office, and a nurse there said these are not offered in the states. So - what do we do? I was following a modified vaccine sched (Sears), though primarily concerned with aluminum in the vaccines. Are they going to expect her to get these tomorrow? Isn't tb vaccine what (now) 60 y.o.s (baby boomers) got as children? I thought that it wasn't [edit to correct to negative] even considered a threat in the states any more, and am pretty sure I've never gotten it.
Any info and opinions appreciated. I figured that we would have had additional vaccines coming over (I.e. Chicken pox) but didn't think we would be missing any and have to catch up...
« Last Edit: November 22, 2011, 02:49:41 PM by AustinMo »


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Re: Men C and BCG (tuberculosis) vaccines
« Reply #1 on: November 21, 2011, 10:07:45 PM »
They have been vaccinating people in the UK with BCG for decades, so I wouldn't worry about the safety of the vaccine.  The bigger question, is whether it is efficacious, and how long the immunity lasts.  I'm not an expert, but I think that public health officials in the UK think that BCG is an effective vaccine based on trials conducted there, but in the USA they think the opposite, due to their own trials.  I don't think there is any clear data on how long the immunity lasts. 

The incidence of TB in the UK and the USA is low, but it is high in other, developing countries.  It's definitely not a disease you want to get.  Treatment requires a regimen of 3(?) antibiotics for 6 months - pretty harsh.  The incidence of multi-drug resistant, and extremely-drug resistant TB is increasing. 



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Re: Men C and BCG (tuberculosis) vaccines
« Reply #2 on: November 22, 2011, 03:04:56 AM »
Dunno about the effectiveness of the BCG, I had mine as a teenager, 15 may be? I'm 33 now. Got a nice scar from it on my arm.  ::)

There is no chicken pox vaccine in the UK, least it wasn't when I came to the States 9 years ago. It was one of the few dozen in the list I had to get that I was exempt from because the UK has never offered it.
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Re: Men C and BCG (tuberculosis) vaccines
« Reply #3 on: November 22, 2011, 04:06:43 AM »
Yeah they don't give the chicken pox vaccine in the UK, unless you are working with immunocompromised individuals.  They think that immunizing children against chicken pox will lead to an increase in the rate of shingles in adults.  The logic is that normally adults (who have already had chicken pox and so carry the dormant virus), will get an immune boost when they around children who have chicken pox.  The immune boost means the body can better fight the chicken pox virus if it reactivates at some point in the adults life.


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Re: Men C and BCG (tuberculosis) vaccines
« Reply #4 on: November 22, 2011, 06:45:02 AM »
We just moved over too with a 22 mo old and a 3.5 yo and are currently making uo the differences.  The 3.5 yo was born in England and started her immunizations there, then we moved back to the states and now are back in England again.  I just took everything with me each time and they some how worked out what they were missing and figured out how to make it up.  There is one in England that is given but its not in the US (maybe men A) they also give a preschool booster earlier than we would have done. 

We did the traditional schedule so can't comment on the Sears one


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Re: Men C and BCG (tuberculosis) vaccines
« Reply #5 on: November 22, 2011, 02:48:25 PM »
Well, basically found out that Men C is included in a later vaccine in the states, usually given around the pre-teen years. Since boosters are regularly given for it (depending upon age, after 3 or after 5 years), we went ahead and got her a Men C shot, with the understanding that when we move back to the states, she'll get the US vaccine (which actually protects against 4 different types of meningitis including C).

As for the TB shot, after Internet research I was determined to hold off on that for a bit until we could get more info, but then the NP at the surgery said they don't actually give it unless needed for travel, and have it on the form for immigrants that come from countries who regularly vaccinate against it. From my quick research on WHO and other papers, newer vaccines are currently being developed, as depending upon the country where it was given, the success of the shot varies widely (from 80% all the way down to 5%!!!). There is also concern that it does generally have a higher success rate when given to younger children/babies, but success goes down significantly when given to older people and adults. Further, the prick test given later will almost always come up positive if you've had the vaccine, therefore necessitating a blood test. (whew. Also, disclaimer, of course, I'm far from in the medical profession, so do your own research, ask your own health care professional and etc :) )
Thanks for the input last night!


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