TB Vaccine (BCG)
Tuberculosis vaccine, also called Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) is a vaccine administered for tuberculosis (TB) disease. The tuberculosis vaccine is mostly administered to children, however, it cannot totally protect people from contracting the disease.

Tuberculosis vaccine may be administered to people at high risk of developing TB infection. The tuberculosis vaccine can also be used to effectively treat bladder cancer and bladder tumors.

Tuberculosis is a deadly lung disease, it can affect equally affect other parts of the body apart from the lungs.
In this article, we discuss how tuberculosis vaccine can be administered to babies, children, adults, and health-care workers. We also discussed how tuberculosis vaccine is administered and the possible side-effects one can experience after taking the vaccine. Read on to find out all these and lots more on the tuberculosis vaccine.

Tuberculosis Vaccine for Babies
The tuberculosis vaccine, or BCG vaccine is recommended for babies who have reached 1 year and who are born in parts of the world were TB cases are prevalent. The tuberculosis vaccine is also recommended for babies whose parent or grandparent who was born in a country with high tuberculosis rate.

Tuberculosis Vaccine for Children
The BCG vaccination is also recommended for older children with an high risk of developing TB. The tuberculosis vaccine is administered to children who have come from nations with high levels of TB such as Southeast Asia, India, South America, Central America, Middle East, and Africa.

Tuberculosis vaccine is also given to children who have come into close contact with anyone who has been infected with the disease.

Some children may be constantly in close contact with adults who have tuberculosis disease. Tuberculosis vaccine should also be administered to children who haven’t been treated successfully for TB disease.

Tuberculosis vaccine should also be given to children who have TB disease triggered by strains resistant to isoniazid and rifampin.

Tuberculosis Vaccine for Health Care Workers
Tuberculosis vaccine for health-care workers including Doctors, Nurses, Lab technicians, and others in the health sector, should administered, particularly for those who work in hospitals with high number of tuberculosis patients.

Also, health care workers who work in facilities where there’s constant spread of TB strains resistant to drug (isoniazid and rifampin), should consider taking the BCG vaccine.

Health care workers in facilities where TB infection-control precautions haven’t been successfully implemented should also take tuberculosis vaccine.

Health care workers should be properly warned concerning the risks and benefits linked with both BCG vaccination and treatment.

Tuberculosis Vaccine for Adults
BCG vaccination for adults is rarely given to people who are over age 16 since treatment at this stage is mostly ineffective. However, adults who are within the ages 16 – 35, and who are exposed to tuberculosis infection because of their work or living environment, should consider taking the vaccine.

Tuberculosis Test for BCG-Vaccinated People
TB Skin test
Most people born outside the United States, have been given the BCG vaccine, especially at birth. For this class of people who have gotten an earlier BCG vaccine, they may undergo a TB skin test to check for TB infection. Vaccination with BCG may cause a positive reaction to a TB skin test. A positive reaction to a TB skin test may be triggered by the BCG vaccine or may be triggered by a TB bacteria infection.

TB blood tests (IGRAs)
TB blood tests (IGRAs), aren’t affected by an earlier BCG vaccination and are not likely to give a false-positive result in BCG- vaccinated people.

The TB skin test is mostly used for children under five, because a positive TB skin test or TB blood test only tells that a person has TB bacteria. However, it cannot tell whether the person has latent TB infection or has advanced to TB disease.

Apart from the blood test and the skin test, there are other tests including the sputum test, and the chest x-ray can be used to check whether the person has been infected with tuberculosis.

How is the Tuberculosis vaccine given?
The BCG vaccination is administered as an injection given in the upper arm. The shot may leave a small scar behind.

When is the BCG vaccination given?
The tuberculosis vaccine is given to babies shortly after birth, while the babies are still in the hospital. If the hospital cannot administer the BCG vaccine, then you should be referred to a local healthcare centre for vaccination immediately you leave the hospital with your baby.

How effective is Tuberculosis vaccination?
The tuberculosis vaccine is produced from a weakened TB bacteria strain. Since the bacteria in the vaccine is weak, it immediately activates the immune system to protect your body against the disease.

This gives good protection to people who receive it without actually causing the disease. The tuberculosis vaccine is about 80% effective against the most severe forms of TB, such as TB meningitis, which mostly affect children.

However, note that the tuberculosis vaccine may not be effective in inhibiting respiratory disease, which is the most common TB infection in adults.

Side effects of BCG Vaccine
The side effects of BCG vaccine may include:

fever
swollen lymph nodes
vomiting
Small red areas at shot site of injection which appears 10-14 days after injection and gradually reduces in size.
frequent or painful urination
upset stomach
blood in the urine
In severe cases you may experience wheezing, severe skin rash, and difficulty breathing and swallowing. Consult your doctor immediately you notice any of these symptoms after taking BCG vaccine.

Tuberculosis Vaccine Near Me
You don’t have to be stressed on the issue of getting the tuberculosis vaccine. It is possible for you to get vaccinated in your doctor’s office or even at local pharmacies and health centers.

You can click this link to help you find out where to get tuberculosis vaccine near you.

Source: https://healthdiary365.com/tuberculosis-vaccine/

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