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BCG Vaccination
Latest information for BCG Vaccinations Essex
The withdrawal of mass vaccination of 13 year old children against TB has occurred without a government fanfare in the last 2 years: many parents are oblivious to the fact that their children will no longer receive this vaccine at school. Off the record many doctors view this as the most retrograde public health measure of the last decade. However, public policy dictates that the incidence of TB in the majority of the UK population is sufficiently low as to make mass vaccination unnecessary. Instead vaccination funds are directed with zeal towards those sections of the population deemed to be a higher risk.
BCG vaccination is not 100% effective: the older you are when you have it, the less effective it is. Most doctors agree there is little value in giving this vaccine to those over 35 years. It needs to be given at least 3 months in advance of the need for it to be effective. It may well be unnecessary for your children to have BCG vaccination if they live in the leafy middle class suburbs of middle England: but surely the point is they do not stay there. Young people, and not so young people, travel the world these days. From World Challenge at school, through gap years , voluntary work and international careers, exotic holidays and work with disadvantaged groups in the UK, people are exposed to TB and will continue to be so.
Worldwide the incidence of TB is on the increase. If you anticipate your sons and daughters spending the entire rest of their lives cushioned in the relative safety of the UK maybe the current BCG policy is right for you. If you are hoping your children might lead a rather more exciting life, please consider vaccination against TB.
The doctors at private GP Services have been trained through the chest clinic at Broomfield Hospital to offer this service. If you would like to make an appointment please call us on either 01245 234134 or 01245 253777.
Appointments at Springfield Hospital : 01245 234134
Appointments at Chelmsford Medical Centre @ Fenton House: 01245 253777
