Humans are extremely fragile and dependent in their first years of life. We need our parents’ help for virtually everything before we learn how to walk, talk, feed ourselves, not to mention the social factors involved and all the medical recommendations and care, such as the BCG vaccine.

First Care

When we have a child, certain precautions need to be taken to ensure their health is not compromised in any way. The treatment of a newborn will never be the same as the treatment we give to children at any other stage of life. Since it is at the very beginning that the baby’s fragility requires us to take all necessary measures so they can develop healthily. Some of this care is natural, like the way we hold the baby, the environments they can or cannot be in, the type of clothing needed to protect them from wind, cold, or heat, among other precautions. But science and medicine also provide and recommend certain care for newborns, such as the heel prick test, weighing, general assessment of the baby’s condition, and also the BCG vaccine—one of the most important measures to be taken for your child’s health in their first months of life. Want to know everything about the importance of the BCG vaccine in newborns? Here you can clear your doubts about several aspects, such as: What is the BCG vaccine?

  • What is the BCG vaccine for?
  • When should the BCG vaccine be administered?
  • BCG vaccine reactions

By reading and learning more about each of these topics, you will understand not only the importance of the BCG vaccine, but also the reasons it is so essential.

What is the BCG Vaccine?

It is a vaccine created in 1921, applied by intradermal injection and required by law for all children under 1 year old. The BCG vaccine protects babies against tuberculosis, especially in its most serious and concerning forms, such as tuberculous meningitis and miliary tuberculosis. The vaccine’s name comes from the main component of its formula, the Calmette-Guérin bacillus. This is what weakens the bacteria that can cause tuberculosis in babies. That’s why it’s important to know that all babies must receive the vaccine to be protected against these diseases and avoid serious health complications in the future.

What is the BCG Vaccine for?

The main function of the vaccine is to build immunity in the child, so the body can fight off various types of infection, the most dangerous being tuberculosis and its variants. There is also the concern about the spread of this disease, since it is highly contagious. A person who is fully up to date on their vaccinations, including BCG, is unlikely to contract or spread this virus to others, at least not in its most severe forms. In addition to benefiting individual health, this is important for society as a whole, as it helps prevent the further spread of tuberculosis and its variants.

When should the BCG vaccine be administered?

According to the WHO (World Health Organization), the vaccine should be administered at the very start of the baby’s life, between 4 and 10 days old. A second dose should be given 6 months later if the doctor notices the baby’s immune system is not responding as expected to the vaccine. In several regions, it is recommended that children receive a second dose of the vaccine between the ages of 6 and 7, mainly because this is when school attendance typically begins.

Contraindications for the Vaccine

The vaccine is not recommended for children who weigh less than 2kg; it is necessary to wait until the baby gains enough weight so their body can respond properly to the BCG vaccine. The contraindications also include children who have a skin condition, either at the vaccine site or generalized. There is also a contraindication if the baby shows congenital immunodeficiency.

BCG Vaccine Reactions

The reaction to the BCG vaccine usually occurs only at the injection site. It is responsible for the well-known mark on the arm that most of us have, which is proof that your immune system is working correctly with the help of the vaccine. After being administered, redness forms around the baby’s upper arm at the application site, sometimes accompanied by discharge, sometimes not. After a few days, a small scab usually forms, like a small wound that may last a few weeks at most. There are cases where the baby’s reaction is more intense, with a larger wound that can even lead to a swollen lymph node in the armpit area. In such cases, a doctor will usually prescribe some type of antibiotic. Taking care of a newborn is not easy and can be very demanding, often taking us completely out of our previous routine and into a wholly different life. Of course, despite all the stress we may face, nothing compares to the joy of raising a human being. But for us to truly have control over all aspects of caring for our baby, we must be aware of the importance of things like the BCG vaccine and all the benefits it brings. That’s why it’s important to remember that care for our children begins in the very first days of life, when we need to be attentive to all treatments, so they can have good health, as this can affect every aspect of a child’s life. See Also: Why Give the Varicella Vaccine? Photos: PublicDomainPictures