There is talk on the News of outbreaks of TB in Leicester and London. Inevitably, this leads to talk of a renewed campaign to vaccinate school children against Tuberculosis.

I had the BCG vaccine myself and it's not a lot of fun!

If it comes to it I will withhold my children from it. But I wondered if anyone has an opinion on the implications for the health of the general population?

Is there routine BCG vaccination in the USA?

Thanks all
Deb

I also wanted to ask is there any point using tuberculinum as a prophylaxis, if the reported cases get too close for comfort?

If so what potency would be recommended?

Thanks
Deb

deb
mass outbreak of tuberculosis.......!
was the vaccine polluted or someother reason !I am interested please go ahead

------------------
Dr.P.K.Sinha

They say there are twenty cases at a school in Leicester. I don't think it was a vaccine reaction. Does anybody else know?
Hoppitt, Davegreen, Tine have you followed this? Do you know any more than me?

Hi Deb,
There seem to be 27 cases now in one school. There is no info. yet on the cause of this particular outbreak but they are hinting that it may be linked to a decline in vaccinating teenages since a bad batch of vaccine a few years ago. Presumably the Government response will be to re-instate a nationwide programme of vaccination again ASAP.
One other worrying trend in the media, which links in a comment by Louise recently, are suggestions that the general rise in TB in the UK is linked to Easter European Immigrants/ Asylum Seekers. That should give our more right wing politicians something else to rant on about.
Interesting that it should follow on so close to the F&MD epidemic.
Take care
Dave

The best prophylaxis against any disease is the individual's constitutional remedy, not the nosode. However the nosode could be of use if the constitution is not known.

I had the BCG as a teenager and my health took a big downturn - I soon developed back problems where there were none before, caught Glandular Fever in a low grade way that lasted for years and developed the discontent and restlessness typical of the tubercular miasm.
It is worse for people who already have a tubercular inheritance of course. When I had the skin test prior to the jab the marks disappeared so I think there was a clinical error in giving me the jab at all.
The lesson is not to trust the mass immunisers - as ever.

Thanks

I was beginning to think I had misunderstood the news, so thanks Dave for confirming this.

Anna, thanks I am sure you're right that the constitutional remedy would be the best protection. I suppose I was imagining a scenario where I have withheld my own children from immunisation and then find there is an outbreak, similar to that in Leicester, in their school, how strong could I be?

Would I be so terrified that I would 'give in' and let them be immunised? In that case I was imagining that it might be worth trying Tuberculinum any way.

Not at the moment.

It was the same when the Men C vaccine was given. Mine were the only children withheld from the vaccine (which was hard anyway). Then a few weeks later there was an outbreak at a local school. I couldn't help doubting that I'd made the right decision.

I've already promised my oldest (9 years) that he doesn't have to have any more innocs, after the bad effects he had from his pre-school MMR.

I think I had my BCG a bit early, when I was about 8 we had an au pair from germany who got TB when she came to us. She had to go home and we all had to be tested and jabbed!

Interestingly, she lived on a dairy farm,in Bavaria, all their milk was unpasturised, but it was only when she came here that she got ill. She spent two years in a sanitorium, and now lives a full life.

That's a bit by the way, but interesting if you're into that kind of thing!

Yes Dave, I'd heard about the supposed 'link' to immigrants and felt the same as you.

Of course it's any excuse for a mass immunisation campaign.

I don't think Tony Blair could take another epidemic

Yes it is interesting that it follows on to the F&M, I think it fits in neatly with your Genus Epidemicus theory.

Deb

Hi Deb,
I've not really paid much attention to this subject until today when it managed to push the foot and mouth epidemic off the headlines. No doubt there will be the usual fear and rush for vaccination that these events usually promote, and the media will do their level best to dramatise it, thus adding to people's anxiety. Will watch with interest now though.

Debdell

No Tub vaccine in the US, they just periodically give a "scratch test"

TB has been on the increase in UK for years even though all Asian newborns and immigrant families are given BCG-also contacts of the disease and people who travel to high risk areas.This is as well as the routine vaccination of 10- 14 year olds.
So now a large outbreak- doesn't say much for the efficacy of the BCG vaccination does it ??

As prophylaxis if you live near an outbreak I would recommend bacillinum 30c - once a week for a month.