Services
BCG (TB) Vaccination
The BCG Vaccination (which stands for Bacillus Calmette-Guérin vaccine) protects against Tuberculosis, commonly known as TB. TB is a serious infection which affects the lungs, but it can affect other parts of the body such as the bones, joints and kidneys. It can also cause meningitis.
2019 Public Health Report on TB summarises that there were 4,655 number of people with Tuberculosis in England in 2018. There is still considerable effort to make to reach the World Health Organization (WHO)’s End TB Strategy target of a 90% reduction in new notifications by 2035.
The best way of TB prevention is the BCG vaccine for children.
BCG is not given as part of the routine NHS childhood vaccination schedule unless a baby is thought to have an increased risk of coming into contact with TB. This includes all babies born in some areas of inner-city London where TB rates are higher than in the rest of the country.
At Olive Health Ilford we offer the BCG vaccination (AJ Vaccine) privately to babies and children up to 6 years of age if not previously vaccinated. Although we are administering privately, it is essential that you bring your child’s Red Book to the appointment, as we will need to record this and notify the child’s GP of the vaccination.
Adults and children over the age of 6 who have not previously been vaccinated and wish to have the BCG vaccine must present with a Matoux test report, without which the BCG vaccine will not be administered.
The Mantoux test determines whether you may have had the BCG vaccination in the past, or a TB infection. (This is a test for immunity to tuberculosis that involves injecting a small amount of a substance called PPD tuberculin into the skin of your forearm, also called the tuberculin skin test). We are unable to vaccinate adults or children over the age of 6 without a Mantoux test report.
Mantoux Tests can be performed at our clinic. This requires two appointments 48-72 hours apart. At your second appointment you will receive your Mantoux results. If positive, you will be referred to the TB clinic and if negative, you may opt to have the BCG vaccine.