What documents should I bring to get the BCG vaccine? What should I do if the BCG vaccination site is torn?

BCG is a vaccine provided free of charge by the state and is mandatory for injection. It is mainly used to prevent newborns from being infected with tuberculosis. Because it is provided free of charge, you need to provide some documents when you take your baby to get BCG. So what do you need to bring for BCG?

What documents should I bring to get BCG vaccine?

1. It is given directly in the hospital at birth.

Babies under 2.3 months old can get booster shots at the local health center. Please bring along the vaccination booklet, the most recent physical examination report, and the mother’s discharge report. If the baby was hospitalized at the time, the discharge report must also be brought.

3. During the period between 3 months and 4 years old, you need to consult the local health center whether you can get the BCG vaccine. There should be a period of time between it and other vaccinations. The vaccine should not be given if you have a cold, fever, cough, runny nose or other physical discomfort.

Bring your vaccination record, recent physical examination report, and mom's discharge report. If your baby was hospitalized at the time, you also need to bring a discharge report.

What should I do if the BCG injection site is broken?

1. After BCG vaccination, the formation of lumps, abscesses, and ulcers is a normal process. It will heal and form scabs naturally in about two to three months on average.

2. After the abscess breaks, no special treatment is generally required. The scab will slowly fall off, leaving a scar.

3. If pus flows out, wipe it gently with sterile gauze or cotton. Do not squeeze the pus. The gauze or cotton used for wiping must be hygienic.

4. Pay attention to keeping the damaged area clean to prevent infection from bacteria and viruses.

5. Don’t wear clothes that are too tight to prevent them from tightening the wound, and change clothes frequently.

6. Don’t let your baby scratch with his hands, and cut his nails frequently.

7. When bathing, take waterproof measures at the BCG vaccination site. You can put a waterproof patch on the baby's belly button, or wrap the wound with a clean handkerchief.

8. If your baby needs to receive other vaccines while BCG has not yet recovered, be sure to use the other arm to vaccinate.

Why should newborns be vaccinated with BCG?

Newborns are vaccinated with BCG to prevent tuberculosis.

Because newborn babies lack immunity to tuberculosis bacteria, once infected with tuberculosis bacteria, they will develop serious tuberculosis. Therefore, newborns need to be vaccinated with BCG.

When administering BCG vaccination, a small dose of non-toxic live tuberculosis bacteria is injected into the center of the deltoid muscle of the upper arm of the newborn. This can produce immunity to tuberculosis but will not cause tuberculosis.