Parents forced to travel for kids' BCG

[Posted: Tue 26/08/2008 by Niall Hunter, Editor www.irishhealth.com]

Parents form Cork are now having to bring their babies to other counties in order to get the BCG vaccine, according to Cork Fine Gael TD Deirdre Clune.

Deputy Clune says there are still problems in accessing the BCG vaccine in Cork and 10,000 babies in the county are on a waiting list for the vaccine.

She said a commitment had been given, following problems with a shortage of the vaccine, that all newborn babies in Cork would have access to BCG vaccine by October of last year.

Deputy Clune saids there had been no progress in cutting the waiting list for the vaccine despite assurances given by Health Minister Mary Harney earlier in the summer that appropriate arrangements were being put in place, including arrangements to undertake additional clinics and to provide the vaccine on request at Cork University Maternity Hospital.

She said some parents in Cork are bringing their babies as far as Waterford and Kerry to receive the vaccine.

The BCG vaccine is normally administered to newborn babies to prevent TB.

According to new immunisation guidelines from the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland, the future use of the vaccine is currently being re-evaluated by the National TB Advisory Committee.

However, the guidelines recommend that at present, universal neonatal BCG  should continue.

See irishhealth.com's Child Vaccination tracker at...
https://www.irishhealth.com/cvt/mainnew.html