A TB question / immigration

JodieWodie · Reflective Banana Joined: 22 Jul 2004 Karma :

In the media recently I recall that Tuberculosis cases were increasing?
There was a big hoo-har about how such an old disease had not been iradicated and it was ravaging modern cities

Basically, my daughter (12) brought a slip and letter home from school about the TB vaccination, (slip due in tomorrow morning)...
Good, OH said, she is DEFO having that vaccine!
Until we read on.....

The gov hav STOPPED the TB vaccine for all secondary school children UNLESS you, or your parents, grandparents were born in certain countries, (to name but a few Africa, Iran, Iraq, Pakistan, India, ...)

This does not make sense to me!? Sure, immigrants bring the disease in, but that doesn't stop OUR children getting it??!! The people carrying / that have TB didn't just arrive today

So, as I see it, all the immigrants get this vaccine, English children have no chance at all!

The slip is asking me if my child has ever spent time with someone who has TB!?? How the hell do I know? And I wrote such. I also wrote that her Dad works in Iraq and so that adds to her susceptibility.

I just find the whole thing bizarre. When / who was this stupid (as I see it) decision made?

J x
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colin1 · Captain Safety Joined: 17 Feb 2005 Karma :

some vaccines may cause other problems, so might not just be a cost saving measure
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ncrn · World Chat Champion Joined: 24 May 2006 Karma :

It's dependant on the county you are in.

The really odd thing for me was my year wasn't vaccinated, the year after ours was, and then none after them. You can get it done if you go to a GP if you want it done.
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Mister James · I want to believe! Joined: 10 Aug 2004 Karma :

If there are children in your school from recently immigrated families or refugee families (especially Africans) than I would recommend doing what you can to getting hold of the jab.

TB infections were rife at the centre I worked in until recently, and it was common for the detainees to refuse medical treatment for a variety of weird and wonderful reasons, leaving them extremely virulent and a danger to public health.

Don't listen to anyone who tells you that you have to be in close proximity for at least 7 hours to catch the virus - that's simply the time at which they calculate the risk becomes unacceptable, you could've caught it after 30 mins, or not caught it after 7 days.
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