Private BCG Post Reply

[abcdefg]

Good morning

My three year old has missed out on having a BCG as Wandsworth didn't offer it when he was a baby. I have now been told that at present he won't be offered it as a teenager either - in other words if we want him to have it we'll have to pay.

I am struggling however to find somewhere that offers it. I know that the Portland will do it, but it seems a bit far for one injection. Would anyone know somewhere more local? The Westover Clinic don't do it.

Thank you so much in advance

[supermaman]

Hi,

I was in the same situation as you and did it when my toddler was 3 years old. Please bear in mind that before your child has the BCG vaccination, he may be tested to see if he has been exposed to TB before. It's called the Mantoux test. You should ask the place where you'll do the BCG inoculation if this is to be done in your case and factor that in your costs and number of visits.

[pepper]

Hi,
last year I was looking for private clinic to do the BCG Vacc for my baby. Someone told me about a doctor and clinic in Kingston, so not too far away. The Portland is so expensive as they want £200 for GP consultation as well.

[Birdie40]

I'm pretty sure it was the coombe medical practice in Kingston that my gp recommended to me.

[Moomie]

I am in the same situation with my three year old.
Parkside hospital
In wimbledon offer it; I guess it's probably the same sort of cost as the numbers
quoted in this post. We haven't done it, yet.

[dudette]

Can someone remind me why your children need a BCG as it's not routine any more? I had it as a child and it was so unpleasant - I still have the scar on my arm.

[sid_seal]

Can someone remind me why your children need a BCG as it's not routine any more? I had it as a child and it was so unpleasant - I still have the scar on my arm.

Because we no longer live in a bubble - people travel around the world and come in from countries where some illnesses are more common than here, so we are more exposed to them than in the past.
There have been cases in Lambeth in the recent past, which is why many PCTs with a higher incidence of TB are recommending immunisation of babies.

[RHOB]

When I got my son his BCG I was told I didn't need to worry about missing the one year old cut off as I'm from SA and a high risk country. Apparently if you have family or friends who visited from these high risk countries they may waive that. I'm not sure how true that is but that is what the nurse told me. Good luck I hope you find a solution

[dudette]

Ok I obviously do live in a bubble as I haven't come across anyone who's given it to their kids. But I see your concern.

[abcdefg]

Thank you for your replies very helpful. In answer to the question why, our baby daughter has had it (Wandsworth changing guidance) and it doesn't seem fair our son hasn't when I expect them to want gap years etc later in life. I just think I might as well get it done now as he'll have to have it when he's older anyway.

Thanks so much again

[sid_seal]

Sorry Dudette, I had no intention of causing offence, really!
Anyway, depending on the age of your children (not sure when the campaign started) and which borough you live in you may simply not have been offered it. Each borough seems to have a different policy depending on the TB incidence.

[dudette]

No offence taken!

[NYE31]

I asked a couple of years ago for our DS to have the BCG & was told by my GP Practice (in Wandsworth) that it wasn't given out unless you lived in W or E London which is surprising given that TB is on the up.