Hello!

We are tracing oversease for 8 weeks and have been told that all four of my children need to get BCG vaccine. I was wondering if anyone has had this and particularly the small scarring that is left in the left arm? Thanks in advance.


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  • I was required to have a BCG jab for work. As mentioned by Madeline De Leon, it does leave a scar and takes some time to heal. Mine was placed on my upper arm so that I could wear t-shirts/dresses without seeing the scar. Mine wasn’t particularly big scar though and it’s hard to see it because of it’s placement.


  • I’m curious to know where you’re travelling to & I wouldn’t think 8 weeks is a prolonged stay? Have you spoken to The Travel Doctor? Regardless, my BCG site was tender & arm slightly sore. Have very minor scarring


  • We had our daughter given BCG.

    Yes it does leave a scarring which is normal. The thing is that the process of it from swelling to crusting to scarring takes a couple of weeks. Again, that is normal.

    I hope you get a good nurse to give it to your kids. Ask them to consider aesthetics when giving it as the nurse who put it on our bub wasn’t aware. She put it too low on the arm so even if she wore short sleeves, the scarring can be seen.

    As a nurse in the Philippines who put so many BCGs on kids, we put it on the upper arm so it cannot be seen when it scars.

    It looks painful by the way, but again, it;s expected. We didn’t put any creams on it.


  • If you are going to USA at all you have to be tested for some diseases and have your vaccinations with covering documents are you may not be allowed into the country. If you are left handed you can opt to have it on your right arm. Don’t delay having them done as some people take longer to heal than others. Some have side effects, some have none.


  • This vaccination for TB was compulsory in the UK many decades ago. There was a small skin test then the big jab.. maybe things have improved now….but yep.. there is scarring. Have never tried creams etc. to help since it has never bothered me…. way way better than getting TB… and some of the places I’ve been with people spitting freely in public places made me really glad that I had protection.


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