BCG is a tb vaccine indicated and is usually given shortly after birth and is included in the child’s basic vaccination program, this vaccine does not prevent infection or disease development, but prevents it from progressing and prevents, in most cases, the most serious forms of the disease, such as miliar tuberculosis and TB meningitis.Learn more about TUBERCULOSIS.
The BCG vaccine is composed of bacteria of the mycobacterium bovis strain (Bacillus Calmette-Guérin), which have a reduced viral load and therefore help stimulate the body, leading to the production of antibodies against this disease, which will be ready to be used if the bacteria enters the body.
- The vaccine is available free of charge by the Ministry of Health and is usually given at the maternity ward or health centre shortly after birth.
- In hospitals or private clinics.
- The vaccine can cost around R$90.
The BCG vaccine should be given directly to the top layer of the skin by a qualified doctor, nurse or health care professional.As a general rule, for children under 12 months the recommended dose is 0.05 ml and for children under 12 months of 0.1 ml.
This vaccine is always applied to the child’s right arm, and the response to the vaccine takes 3 to 6 months to appear and is noticeable when a small red spot appears on the skin, which becomes a small ulcer and eventually a scar.Scarring indicates that the vaccine may have increased your baby’s immunity.
After receiving the vaccine, the child may have an injury at the injection site.To make healing properly, avoid covering the injury, keeping the area clean, not applying medications, or selling the area.
The TB vaccine usually does not cause any side effects, in addition to swelling, redness and tenderness at the injection site, which gradually becomes a small blister and then an ulcer in about 2 to 4 weeks.
Although this is rare, in some cases inflamed lymph nodes, muscle pain and wounds may occur at the injection site.When these side effects occur, it is recommended that you go to your pediatrician to evaluate your child.
The vaccine is indicated for premature babies weighing less than 2 kg and it is necessary to wait for the baby to reach 2 kg before administering the vaccine.In addition, people allergic to any of the components of the formula, who have congenital or immunosuppressive diseases, such as widespread infection or AIDS, should not be vaccinated.
The duration of protection varies. It is known to have decreased over the years due to the inability to generate a sufficiently robust and durable number of memory cells, so protection is known to be superior in the first 3 years of life, but there is no evidence that protection is greater.15-year-old.
According to WHO, there is no scientific evidence that the BCG vaccine is able to protect against the new coronavirus, responsible for COVID-19 infection, however, research is underway to understand whether this vaccine could actually have an effect against the new coronavirus..
Due to lack of evidence, WHO recommends BCG vaccine only for countries where there is an increased risk of TB.