Whats the point of getting a TB vaccine?

Question

my gf got it lol
and she said that its because she didnt for past 6 years.
but then i read that ppl dont need it if they dont have TB, which she obviously doesnt have, so now im confused

Answer 1

There are both, a vaccine and a test.

The vaccine is called the BCG Vaccination and the test to see if you have been exposed to TB is called mantoux test.



What is BCG?

Bacille Calmette Guerin (BCG) is the most widely used vaccination in the world. BCG is made of a live, weakened strain of Mycobacterium bovis, (a cousin of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the TB bacteria). It was developed in the 1930's and it remains the only vaccination available against tuberculosis today. It is used because it is effective in reducing the likelihood and severity of TB in infants and young children. That is especially important in areas of the world where TB is highly prevalent, and the chances of an infant or young child becoming exposed to an infectious case are high. In the United States BCG is not used, because TB is not prevalent and the chances are small that infants and young children will become exposed. Another reason BCG is not used in the United States is because it may cause a tuberculin skin test to convert from negative to positive. This can be confusing because the TB skin test is the best available test for TB infection, and widespread use of BCG would make the skin test less useful.

Information about BCG in the United States may be very different from information about BCG that is given in many other countries. The contradictory messages often cause a lot of confusion. Some of the questions and answers below may help explain why the information about BCG in this country may seem different from the information in other countries.


Why was I given BCG?

In countries with high rates of TB, BCG is often given to infants at the time of birth because it helps prevent the more serious forms of TB disease from developing in children. In some countries BCG is given to the same person several times during childhood and early adult life, in an effort to maintain an immunity to TB. Repeated vaccination increases the likelihood of causing a positive skin test but may not increase protection against TB.


Does BCG work?

Unfortunately, the positive effect of BCG in protecting infants and young children from endemic areas from the lethal forms of TB does not extend to the adult years. Thus, many people develop active tuberculosis even though they received BCG, even in multiple doses, in earlier years. Since BCG has been used so widely and for such a long time, if it were effective it is unlikely that one third of the world's population would now have TB infection and that two million people a year worldwide would die of TB.


Could my BCG cause me to have a positive TB skin test?

BCG can cause a positive skin test, especially if the vaccine was given after early infancy, if it was given several times, and if it was given within the last five to ten years. Nevertheless, since many persons who have immigrated to the U.S. are at risk of TB even though they received BCG, the recommendation in the United States is to interpret skin tests and recommend treatment regardless of whether you have had BCG. In other words, if you have a positive skin test and are from a part of the world where TB is common, you should assume that it is due to TB exposure and implies a risk of future disease and not that it's positive because of the BCG. Nevertheless, you should let your doctor know if you had a BCG, when and if you had it more than once.


Is another vaccine being developed?

Yes. BCG continues to be studied intensively around the world for ways in which its effectiveness can be increased. Research toward a more effective TB vaccine has also been initiated. However, a new TB vaccine should not be expected for at least another 20 years.
http://www.metrokc.gov/health/tb/bcgvaccine.htm#work
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Answer 2

There is NO vaccine for TB. What she has been getting is a TB skin test that shows the below:

A tuberculin skin test is done to see if you have ever had tuberculosis (TB) (Mycobacterium tuberculosis). It is done by putting a small amount of TB protein (antigens) under the top layer of skin on your inner forearm. If you have ever been exposed to the TB bacteria, your skin will react to the antigens by developing a firm red bump at the site within 2 days.

A tuberculin skin test cannot tell how long you have been infected with TB or if the infection can be passed to others (active TB).

TB tests are done for the following reasons:

A tuberculin skin test is done to find people with tuberculosis (TB), including:

People who have been in close contact with someone known to have TB.

Health care workers who are likely to be exposed to TB.

People with TB symptoms, such as a ongoing cough, night sweats, and weight loss for no reason.

People who have had an abnormal chest X-ray.

People who have had a recent organ transplant or with impaired immune systems, such as those with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).

A tuberculin skin test should not be done for people who have a:

Known TB infection.

Positive tuberculin skin test in the past. A second test may cause a more severe reaction to the TB antigens.

Skin rash that would make it hard to read the skin test.

Please click the below link for more information.
http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/Tuberculin-Skin-Tests

Answer 3

It's not a vaccine, it's a test. The point being that if you test positive, you've been exposed, although may not actually have TB. You get antibiotics for a year to be sure that there is no remaining bacteria. You can potentially infect others which is why the medication is free through the health department.

Answer 4

distinctive study in peer reviewed journals have shown same possibilities of autism in young infants that have vaccines vs. people who do no longer. under no circumstances has there been a learn exhibiting correlation between the two, no longer to indicate causation. Vaccines are secure and artwork. it fairly is why small pox has been eradicated and why as quickly as easy ailments like polio, mumps, measles, rubella have been decreased via as much as ninety 9% in the process the previous few a protracted time. And their modern-day improve in frequency has meditated the decreased vaccination expenditures. edit: @somebody: retrospective study. often Swedish and different Scandinavian countries that have centralized well-being documents of their entire citizenry. no longer something that grouped infants into 2 communities for double blind study. which would be thoroughly unethical. hundreds of thousands of documents factors as antagonistic to the 8 that the retracted and unreproduceable Wakefield "learn" confirmed.

Answer 5

There is no vaccine for TB. The shot that you get for TB is a skin test, to see if you have been exposed to the TB bacteria. If you test positive for the test it does not mean that you have TB, just that you've been exposed to it. The doctor would want to follow up a positive skin test with a chest x-ray.

I am a nurse and get a TB skin test every year.

Answer 6

I had to get a TB vaccine when I applied to work at a foster group home. My guess is that it is required in situtations where TB can easily spread (close living quarters, hospitals, work with children or the elderly). It's precautionary.

Answer 7

THERE IS A TB VACCINE!

I GUESS NO ONE KNOWS HOW TO GOOGLE "TB VACCINE".

If you people don't think there is a TB vaccine, ask someone from India and see what they have to say.

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Answer 8

There is not vaccine for TB. There is a test that they give u to see if u been exposed but not an actual vaccine against it

Answer 9

There is no TB vaccine. You can get a TB skin test, to see if you have TB. And if you have TB you can get it treated and I think it can go away.

Answer 10

Well how is it a test?! if she got a SHOT that is supposed to be acting as a Preventing vaccine?