BCG Vaccine

[Logic]

Hi,

We were offered to give this vaccine for our baby but I'm a bit hesitant especially after reading this

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BCG_diseas ... _the_2000s

Has anyone taken the vaccine for their child? any thoughts or experiences?

[jahasjahas]

(I have no experience on vaccinations.) The Finnish Wikipedia article says that they only offer the vaccine to high-risk groups, so they seem to think it's worth it for your child.

The article mostly cites Rokotusinfo ry, which isn't a scientific organization. It's an anti-vaccination group (even though they don't want to classify themselves as one), so remember to be sceptical. They were right about the swine flu vaccine causing narcolepsy, but they also seem to claim that the MPR/MMR vaccine causes autism...

[Hpslm]

Like jahasjahas said, the article seems to cite mainly anti-vaccine group's webpage. As I know nothing about the scientific study of vaccines, that would be an instant red flag for me. If you're qualified to read the actual research and understand it, you don't need them and if you're not, I would trust someone who has actual responsibility over their actions.

As for the narcolepsy, well, swine flu did kill children and adults in Finland. It is impossible to say how many more dead people there would have been without the vaccine.

[Rip]

I doubt anybody here has qualifications to argue against the vaccination is still recommendable for those considered to be elevated risk families.

Nothing is completely safe; that includes also not getting the vaccination.

[Logic]

Are you in a high-risk group, Logic?

Actually no but it's written in the vaccines paper so either you tick the box or you don't.

[interleukin]

(Disclaimer: I'm a biologist, not a doctor) The BCG is not that effective actually, so it's generally not something you'd get unless you are at higher risk than normal of contacting tuberculosis (and especially the multiresistent strains). If you are considering vaccinations for a kid with a normal immune system living in Finland, it's not something that you'd be taking.

(But you should of course make your own decisions)

[Rip]

OK, I misunderstood you earlier.

(Our family is considered among risk groups; I did not know it is offered as optional also to others.)

[Logic]

I'm a bit surprised that they don't offer the meningococcal vanccines here even if they were for high risk groups!

[Rip]

It is considered that there isn't particular risk group(s) of people that just live here (apart from those doing military service)(?) People travelling are supposed to take their own precautions.

(this is a guess)

[Upphew]

I'm a bit surprised that they don't offer the meningococcal vanccines here even if they were for high risk groups!

You are in high risk group if you live in this area:

[cathe]

At an appointment with my midwife, we discussed about BCG vacine for my baby as I came from one of the high risk countries. She showed me a list that includes countries not just from Africa.

Check out here the list of high risk countries, from the World Health Organization Global Health Observatory:
[url]
http://www.byui.edu/health-center/tb-information[/url]

[Rip]

She showed me a list that includes countries not just from Africa.

The map wasn't about TB, neither was the post it "answered"

[cathe]

hey Rip, I didn't mean to go, let's say , "against" the other post

I saw on the map writen it was about meningitis epidemiology... But remembering that there exist also other "types" of meningitis, for exemple the tuberculous meningitis, where BCG vaccine is effective for pedicatric groups.
Sorry Rip, if I didn't answer it "rightly".
I just wanted to share the info I had about BCG vaccine from a health care professional.

For Logic, about taking the vaccine or not, one should consider the risks even if you are not between the high risk countries. As Rip said:"... nothing is completely save..."