BCG Vaccine
Meaning of BCG - Korean Tuberculosis Association:
👉 Short for Bacillus Calmette-Guérin Vaccine.
👉 A vaccine that weakens the toxicity of the tuberculosis bacteria isolated from cows, preventing disease but providing immunity against tuberculosis.
Tuberculosis is transmitted through the tiny droplets from the coughs or sneezes of respiratory tuberculosis patients. For pulmonary tuberculosis, symptoms include coughing and phlegm, while infants might experience dry coughs or mild respiratory distress. It's an airborne disease and can easily be spread through conversations or coughing, making it important to build immunity through vaccination.
BCG Prevention
The most effective way to prevent tuberculosis is to boost immunity through BCG vaccination within 4 weeks after birth. According to data from the Disease Control Agency, it's recommended that all newborns receive one BCG vaccination within 34 days of birth. If vaccination is delayed for various reasons, it's possible to receive the vaccine up to 3 months of age without a tuberculin skin test. However, those who have been in contact with untreated tuberculosis patients should not be vaccinated.
Tuberculin Skin Test - Asan Hospital in Seoul:
👉 An antigen used in skin tests for tuberculosis diagnosis, extracted from glycerin of the tuberculosis bacteria.
👉 After injection into the skin, the size of the skin lesion 48-72 hours later determines the presence of a tuberculosis infection.
Types of BCG Vaccination
While it's understood that vaccination is important for immunity against tuberculosis, why are there two types? It's due to the method of injection!
Percutaneous vaccination seems to be more popular as it leaves less scarring. The Korean Vaccine Sales Co., which imports the BCG vaccine, says that the percutaneous vaccine is safer and has fewer side effects. However, it's important to verify this with trusted sources as some promotional materials might be biased.
The intradermal vaccine is more widespread in developing countries, possibly because it allows more infants to be vaccinated in a single set. The WHO has mentioned the intradermal type, and since it's designated as NIP (National Essential Immunization), we decided to get the intradermal vaccine.
BCG Vaccination Appointment
For the intradermal vaccine, appointments have to be made at public health centers or designated medical institutions. I searched for them on the 'Vaccination Helper' website. The website itself doesn't allow direct reservations, so I contacted the hospital to set a date.
Tip:
In Osami's case, she received the Hepatitis B vaccine on April 5th after birth, and the second dose was scheduled for May 5th (one month after the first dose). The BCG vaccine can be administered up to 34 days after birth, so we scheduled the Hepatitis B shot along with the BCG vaccine. It might be tough for Osami, but it's better to endure once and be protected.
Recorded on April 17, 2023.