IMMUNISATION

Due to high demand for the BCG vaccination (as it was unavailable for almost two years pre-August 2018), it may be some time before we notify you of an appointment date. If your child is under 6 months old we will notify you in 2-4 weeks. If your child is older it may be several months before we notify you.

If you've filled in the form, we've received your details - you don't need to call. Thank you for your patience.

BCG vaccination information

Protect your child from Tuberculosis (TB)

Tuberculosis (TB) is a serious, infectious illness that takes a long time to cure. It spreads to healthy people by germs coughed up from the lungs of someone who has the disease.

Children under five years can be protected from severe forms of TB with a free BCG vaccination if they are at risk of catching the disease. The vaccine will not prevent a person becoming infected with tuberculosis. However, when BCG vaccine is given just after birth, 7 out of 10 of infants and young children will be protected from developing severe forms of TB, e.g. meningeal TB (affecting the brain) and miliary TB (widespread).

Children under five years are eligible if they:

• Have a family or household member who has TB now or in the past, or
• Have a family or household member who, within the last five years, has lived for six months or more in a country which has high numbers of people with TB (See the list), or
• Are planning to live for three months or longer in a country which has high numbers of people with TB. See the list of countries.

If you have any questions, please read the Frequently asked questions for more information. You can also call us on 0800 FOR BCG (0800 367 224).

We restarted the BCG vaccination programme in Auckland in August 2018, after a two year global shortage in vaccine supply. Currently, there is a high demand for the vaccination.

Eligible babies under the age of six months will be given priority, as they are most vulnerable to TB.

Some eligible children aged six months or older may need to be tested for TB first (this usually involves a skin test called a Mantoux test).

After a recent review of our BCG programme and discussions with the Immunisation Advisory Committee (IMAC) and the Ministry of Health, the Mantoux skin test is only required for some children over 6 months of age. Only children that may have been exposed  to TB should be offered it. If their Mantoux test is normal they can be vaccinated. The Mantoux skin test is only required for children aged 6 months or older who:

• Have had close contact with someone who currently has active TB disease, or
• Have had a family member with TB disease within the last 5 years, or
• Have lived or stayed in a country with high rate of TB (See the list) for 3 months or more – this includes multiple visits totalling 3 months or more.

Only children under 5 years of age at the time of the clinic appointment will be vaccinated. Whilst all effort will be made to book your child in a timely way, if they are 5 years or older at the time the next available appointment is offered, we will not be able to vaccinate your child.

Check if your child is eligible for the vaccine

Resources

General

• Information sheet on BCG vaccination in Auckland
• Information on BCG available in many languages (including English)
• Frequently asked questions

For health professionals

• Information for Health professionals (Health Ed)
• Information sheet on BCG vaccination in Auckland
• Neonatal BCG Assessment Form for midwives

Links

• Information on TB (Ministry of Health)
• List of countries with high numbers of TB cases
• IMAC