Bacille calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccine is a attenuated tubercle bacilli given at birth for the babies. This vaccination gives 80% protection against tuberculous. Albert Calmette, a French bacteriologist and Camille Guerin, a veterinarian are the founders of BCG and it is named after them. This vaccine is proved to be a safest vaccine which prevents pulmonary tuberculosis and tuberculous meningitis in children. Thus vaccination programs greatly reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with infectious diseases.
Any vaccine should be given at the right age of life to produce immunity in course of time against that particular disease for which it's given. BCG is given soon after birth or in the first week of life. Some countries do not insist giving this vaccine but most developing countries have BCG as a part of their regular immunisation schedule. BCG and OPV are given as a part baby care in many hospitals.
BCG vaccine is given intradermally at the deltoid region. It comes in an ampule. The dosage is 0.1 mg in 1 ml at birth and the frequency varies as per countries vaccination schedules. BCG vaccine usually causes pain but it should not be massaged. It does not require any hot formentation. It does not cause any fever. The only side effect is, it produces a scar. This scar acts as a proof of your previous immunisation with BCG.
There are other advantages of taking BCG. Now BCG is used for the treatment of bladder and colorectal cancers, psoriasis, type 1 diabetes, leprosy and meningitis. They are more associated with adult diseases. The rare complication is the abscess formation when it is given as a sub-cutaneous injection by mistake.
BCG is a safe vaccine for your baby. Vaccinate your baby as early as you can because it is proved to be more effective when it is given in the first few days of life. Let your baby cry now with the small tiny poke and keep smiling all through his life.
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