TB jabs for youngsters to re-start (From Barry And District News)

TB jabs for youngsters to re-start

BARRY schoolchildren are being targeted in a crucial BCG catch-up programme after a gap of 12 years.

Youngsters aged between 12 and 18 will receive the Bacillus Calmette-Guerin jab, which protects against tuberculosis, over the next four years.

The fast-track programme, fully funded by Bro Taf Health Authority, will start by focusing on older children.

Jackie Murray, a specialist nurse in communicable disease control from Bro Taf, said: "As there has not been a BCG vaccination programme in this area for about 12 years, the programme involves a catch-up programme over four years."

She said they would first target older pupils likely to leave school in the near future for university, jobs or gap years.

Ms Murray added: "This will happen for the first two years and then we will be catching up with the younger children and eventually will be vaccinating children routinely in year nine."

The BCG injection contains a very weak form of the bacterium which causes TB. The vaccine does not cause TB itself, but it stimulates the body to start building up immunity so it can fight the disease. Protection is long-lasting, at least 15 years.

The programme follows a slight increase in recent years in the number of people with the disease.

Although it is no longer common is this country, there are between 5,000 and 6,000 cases a year.

TB is on the increase in Asia, Africa and some Eastern European countries.

Ironically, the disused Sully Hospital - one of eight sites currently being looked at by the Home Office to house asylum seekers - was opened in 1936 as a specialist TB hospital.

It worked on the treatment and eradication of TB until the disease's later decline.

Penarth children will first be given a skin test to see if they are already immune to TB. A week later the nurse or doctor will check the reaction. If the test area has become red, raised and hard, they are already immune. If not, they will be given the BCG jab.

The programme kicked off across the Vale of Glamorgan and Cardiff in January. The next local injections will take place in Dinas Powys on April 23.

The programme will be discussed at a meeting of the Vale of Glamorgan Community Health Council at 7pm tonight at Llandough Hospital.

The proposed BCG vaccination schedule:

* School year 2001/2002: Year 11 and Year 13 * School year 2002/2003: Year 11 and Year 13 * School year 2003/2004: Year 10 and Year 11 * School year 2004/2005: Year 9 and Year 10 * After school year 2004/2005, only Year 9 will be vaccinated