Vaccinations - BCG | ExpatWoman.com
 

Vaccinations - BCG

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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 07 August 2012 - 18:00

We are coming to Doha soon and I've had varying advice about my children needing a BCG before coming to Doha. We are in the Uk and at present the Uk doesn't vaccinate against TB as a general rule (although they do in some specific cases - but we don't fall into any of them, so my youngest hasn't had a BCG). Have you given your children the BCG to come to Doha? Can I get it done in Doha if I don't have time to arrange it at home (we leave in a few days)?! Panicing slightly!

124
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 12 August 2012 - 13:40
Some of the kids in nurseries/schools might be in higher risk groups. Our kids were vaccinated, but its worth a note on how rubbish the vaccine is, the stats on cerebral TB are good, but pulmonary are pretty poor. So, certainly isn't a fail safe protection. Just a thought. If you can get the vaccines done before you get to Qatar, its handy because the vaccine site can get rather mucky, if the kids are in and out of pools.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 12 August 2012 - 11:30
I have been following this thread, and hope I can make some helpful comments. I left Qatar in June haven't been able to log on as Silver6, so have had to re register. I have clinical experience in TB screening, Mantouxs and BCG etc. BCG is not a highly effective vaccine. In adults it is less effective than children. It is approx 80 percent effective in young children. medical research puts it at 50 percent effective in stopping the spread of TB. As with any Vaccination, this is assuming the Vaccine has been stored and administered correctly. When living in Qatar,despite trying, I could never establish the cold chain protocols for vaccine storage and vaccine administration. My impression was there was a rather cavalier attitude to vaccinations and not always in line with WHO vaccination recommendations. (I am not anti vaccination, being a certified vaccinator). BCG vaccination does have a place for children in high risk situations. However are your children going to be mixing closely,within those high risk communities in Doha? (Goggle how TB is spread, then you will know how it is spread.) In NZ, babies are given BCG only if they live in the identified high risk ethnic communities It is not given to all babies. If you have had a BCG in the past, and have contact with TB later in life it can give false positives when reading Mantouxs. This is important to understand. Even Healthcare workers are not recommended to be vaccinated with BCG, (unless working in close contact specifically with TB patients) , so I would ask why would you do mass vaccination of all children with BCG, when they are less likely to have TB contact - Unless someone in the family or close community has infectious TB (not all TB is infectious) . I hope this has been helpful.
331
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 10 August 2012 - 23:01
i know that it has been compulsory at birth at the Hamad hospital. Usually typhoid is part of the combi vaccination. If you travel it is worth doing the BCG anyway. My kids were always tested in Germany with a heaf test as the disease is apparently on the increase in Europe now! Unless you are particularly anti-vaccine I think it is worth doing. It takes longer to heal apparently when you live in hotter climates.
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 10 August 2012 - 22:47
Here is a link to the national schedule of vaccines in Qatar, NB this is for people [b'>living[/b'> in Qatar, whereas the CDC guidelines you mention are for [b'>travellers[/b'>, usually BCG is not a "travel" vaccine as TB is more one of those "close contact" type diseases. So they may not be the best guidelines to look at (I doubt they recommend BCG for travellers even for countries where it is quite prevalent.) I think its best to look at the schedule of your home country, and any countries you plan to live in, and try and figure out a combo that is most appropriate for your situation. http://www.alhayatmedicalcenter.com.qa/calc/vaccines.html
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 10 August 2012 - 22:35
Its optional if your baby is born here, although recommended as part of the national schedule. CSH I don't think its that hard to get the vaccine here, Al Ahli private hospital does BCG vaccines on Sundays and Wednesdays every week, but you have to have the skin tests first for a child older than 2 months which you may not have to do if you do it in the UK. I don't think typhoid vaccines are needed for here, not part of the national schedule as far as I recall, but not a terrible idea if you think you will do a bit of traveling in the region while you are here. As far as I know my son hasn't been given one, unless it snuck into one of the combined shots without me realizing.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 10 August 2012 - 05:35
I checked the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website for the US to see about recommended vaccines for people going to Qatar. They don't mention anything about the TB vaccine. So we will probably hold off on it when we move. Could someone please tell me if the TB vaccine is mandatory for babies born there, or do parents have a choice? Also, the CDC website did recommend a typhoid vaccine. Is that something people typically do? Thanks!!
331
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 10 August 2012 - 00:22
I know that it is increasingly hard to get your children vaccinated in the UK (changes in rules, NHS money saving etc) but I would really have it done before you come if possible. It is the last thing you need to be worrying about when you arrive. Also there are schools that require children to vaccinated before they accept them. I have no idea about nurseries. Having the BCG in Doha is not easy, although they have recently updated the clinic I believe (it was awful!). You used to have to get it done at the public clinic. Babies born in Doha are vaccinated at 3 days. Whilst you may think the risk of your children catching the disease is small, there is such a influx of workers all the time there is always some risk (especially with all the spitting!),
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 09 August 2012 - 16:45
The size of the final scar really varies, on my son it is barely visible, on some kids it is huge, its usually done on the upper arm near the shoulder but you can do it elsewhere if you are worried about the scar. The scar wouldn't put me off the vaccine, better a small scar than catching TB. The actual risks of TB here are debatable though, the rate of infection here isn't all that high but the constant influx of people from places where it is, whether you will have a maid/nanny etc and if you will be doing much traveling around the region are all things to consider. We weighed it all up and chose to vaccinate, but I can see why some would think it unnecessary. Do your own research and decide.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 08 August 2012 - 20:07
Further to kiwispiers comment, I think the scar looks a bit more like a cigarette burn (I have seen it on a few handfuls of kids under the age of 2). I also believe giving your kid the vaccine means they will get false positives on future TB tests. For both of these reasons I will likely be avoiding this vaccine.
105
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 08 August 2012 - 20:00
Hi thanks for that BEDH and Kiwispiers - I ahve asked out Dr here to refer him to the lcoal hospital to have it done and if it comes through in time then we'll get it done and if it doesn't then we'll sort it out when we get to Doha (when I get round to it I suppose)
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 08 August 2012 - 15:26
Just checked at Al Ahli private hospital and any child over the age of 2 months needs to have the test first before they will give the vaccination so your child would need to be tested first to get it here. They don't tend to get sick after the BCG vaccine, but a few weeks later a pimple type sore comes up on the injection site. It needs to be given by someone well trained in BCG vaccination.
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 07 August 2012 - 21:33
My two and half year old hasn't had it as was born in Bahrain where it wasn't routine but my Qatar born 1 year old had it at birth . Qatar is trying to be TB free so they do encourage it . I was advise by my doctor to take the eldest to the goverment vaccination clinic where he would be tested and then given a BCG if needed . That was a year ago and I haven't done it yet .
105
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 07 August 2012 - 19:59
Hi kiwispiers - The only one that hasn't had it is 2, so he wouldn't need the test first. I managed to speak to a GP at our surgery who has said it would be better to get it done before we come to Doha but if I can't get it done in time, to get it done when we arrive. Anyway, panic over for now (although there's bound to be something else to panic about in an hour or so)
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 07 August 2012 - 19:15
how old are your kids? they may need to have some tests done before they can get the vaccine, not sure on the rules. The vaccine is not compulsory here.