Before you attend your appointment, please be aware:

• The BCG vaccine is made from a live but weakened strain of TB bacteria
• The body will be triggered to protect you against TB, creating antibodies – but it will not give you TB

The reactions we expect to see include:

• a slight swelling, redness and tenderness at the injection site followed by a local lesion
• some weeks later this lesion evolves into a small ulcer
• after some months this ulcer will heal leaving a small, flat scar
• a slight swelling of the lymph nodes in the armpit may be experienced

Uncommon side effects can include:

• soreness or discharge from where the injection was given
• a high temperature (fever)
• headache
• swollen glands under the armpit in the arm where the injection was given

However as this vaccine is given just under the skin, these side effects are very rare. Should your baby (under 8 weeks of age) develop a fever you will need to contact 111.

We cannot give your child the vaccine if:

• They are allergic to any of the ingredients
• They are unwell with a fever or have a skin infection
• They have a disease or condition that effects their immune system
• Mother received any treatment that suppresses the immune system while pregnant or breast feeding
• They are taking any medication that affects the immune system including radio therapy, chemotherapy and corticosteroids
• They have been diagnosed with any malignant conditions including leukaemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease
• They have been diagnosed with HIV
• They are being treated for TB

To make your appointment as swift as possible we kindly ask the following:

• Please ensure you have read all of the above information before attending your appointment.
• Please dress your baby in easy to remove clothing so we can easily access their upper left arm.
• Please limit the amount of people attending to 2 persons – our rooms are small and have limited seating space.
• At least one adult must be the parent of the child in order to give consent.
• Please try to avoid bringing older siblings where possible, as supervising them will be difficult while your baby is being vaccinated.
• Please aim to attend 5 minutes before your appointment time to allow check in and preparation.
• If you require an interpreter, please let the team know as soon as possible.
• If your child has an underlying condition, please consult with your GP / consultant prior to your appointment to confirm they are happy for your child to receive their vaccination. Preferably in writing.
• Please be aware that this is a busy clinic with a high appointment turnover, there are facilities available outside the clinic room to feed and change your baby.

The neonatal BCG vaccination is a specialist service, and we would encourage all parents to respond to their appointments. Non-attendance to appointments will lead to your child being discharged from the service.

NHS England have set up an email contact point to enable parents, carer’s and other members of the public to raise questions or concerns on availability and on priority groups if they wish to do so. The email contact details are england.contactus@nhs.net