BCG is an indicated tuberculosis vaccine that is usually administered immediately after birth and is included in the baby’s basic vaccination schedule, this vaccine does not prevent infection in the development of the disease, however, it requires it to evolve and prevents, in the most cases, the most serious forms of disease, such as miliary tuberculosis and tuberculous meningitis.
The BCG vaccine is composed of mycobacterium bovis bacteria (Bacillus Calmette-Guérin), which have a attenuated viral load and therefore help stimulate the body, producing antibodies against this disease, which will be listed to act in case the bacteria enter the body.
- The BCG vaccine should be administered directly by a doctor.
- Who is a qualified health care professional.
- In the upper layer of the skin.
- Usually for children under 12 months the recommended dose is 0.
- 05 ml and the age greater than 12 months is 0.
- 1 ml.
This vaccine is always applied to the child’s right arm and the response takes 3 to 6 months to appear, noting at the time a small spot and raised skin appears, which eventually becomes a small ulcer and finally, a scar. The formation indicates that the cow may have stimulated the baby’s immunity.
After receiving the vaccine, I was unable to present any lesions at the injection site, for proper healing, avoid covering the lesion and keep the area clean, do not apply any medication to cure the injury.
Normally, the TB vaccine does not produce side effects, in addition to swelling, weight loss and tenderness in the injection area, which will gradually become a small ampoule and ulcer, 2 to 4 weeks later.
Although this is rare, in some cases there may be inflammation of the lymph nodes, muscle pain and heredism at the injection site. As soon as these side effects occur, it is recommended to consult your pediatrician so that the child is not evaluated.
The vaccine is indicated in premature babies weighing less than 2 kg, so it is necessary to wait until the baby reaches this weight before the vaccine can be given. Similarly, people allergic to certain components of the formula, who have congenital or immunosuppressive diseases. , such as widespread AIDS infection, for example, should not receive the vaccine.
The duration of protection varies. We know that it descends with the grace of the inability to generate a sufficiently robust and durable memory cell. In this way we know that protection is greater during the first 3 years of life, but there is no evidence that the protection is greater than 15 years.
According to WHO [1], there is no scientific evidence that the BCG vaccine is able to protect against the new coronavirus, which causes COVID-19 infection, however, research is underway to understand whether this vaccine could have a beneficial effect against this viral disease.
Due to a lack of evidence, the WHO recommends the BCG vaccine only for countries with a higher risk of contracting TB.