Is a TB shot necessary??

Naomi · Dec 6th, 2006, 18:20

My partner and I are travelling India in Feb for 4 months. The doctor we saw at the tropical bureau advised us to because we were spending so long in India.

We have had everything from polio to yellow fever to Hep B & C, rabies etc etc…

Has anyone else travelled India without the TB vaccine?

SANJAY_DEL · Dec 6th, 2006, 18:24

Go for the shot of BCG. It'll help boost your immunity to the real TB bacillus, which lurks in the air across India.

SANJAY_DEL · Dec 6th, 2006, 18:31

Vaccine Expert Group/Country
WHO CATMAT/Canada CDC/US CDSC/UK NHMRC/Australia
Required vaccines
Yellow fever ** ** ** ** **

Routine vaccines
Diphtheria/tetanus *** *** *** *** ***
Polio ** ** ** ** **
Measles *** *** *** *** ***
Hepatitis B * * * * *

Recommended vaccines
Hepatitis A *** *** *** *** ***/*
Rabies * * * * *
Typhoid fever * * * * *
Meningococcal * * * *** *
Japanese encephalitis * * * * *
Tuberculosis * --/* -- * *
Cholera c -- -- -- --
Influenza * * * * NA

SANJAY_DEL · Dec 6th, 2006, 18:35

To explain the table, here is the recommendation for TB vaccine:
Tuberculosis

Based on results of tuberculin tests, the incidence rate of infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis is 3,000 per 100,000 person-months of travel, and of these people 60 per 100,000 have active tuberculosis.
The prevalence of transmissible tuberculosis among air travelers is estimated to be 5 to 100 per 100,000 passengers. Transmission in flight or during prolonged train and bus rides has been reported only rarely, but documenting in-flight transmission is very hard owing to wide dispersal of passengers.
Outdoor transmission is negligible, unless there is repeated exposure, as may occur among long-term, low-budget travelers or expatriates.[

Naomi · Dec 6th, 2006, 19:02

Thank you for the clarification.

Just one more question. When you stated

'Based on results of tuberculin tests, the incidence rate of infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis is 3,000 per 100,000 person-months of travel, and of these people 60 per 100,000 have active tuberculosis'.

The 60 persons per 100,000 you are referring to have active tuberculosis before travelling to india and the 3,000 per 100,000 are infected during travel to india.

am i understanding this correctly?

SANJAY_DEL · Dec 6th, 2006, 19:11

No, u got it wrong.

The first number refers to people who catch the infection and the second number is for those with the infection who end up with the "active" disease process and not just the infection.
Slightly techie, I guess.
But the take home message is - go for the BCG shot coz there is a small risk of catching tuberculosis, which is perhaps the commonest bacterial infection in India.

Naomi · Dec 6th, 2006, 19:19

i have decided to go ahead and get it. Thanks for the info

Naomi · Dec 6th, 2006, 19:21

i have a habit of getting slightly confused

SANJAY_DEL · Dec 6th, 2006, 19:34

M glad waz abul 2 CONvins u on dat !

SteamBuff · Dec 6th, 2006, 20:04

Hiya,

Yellow Fever is not necessary (or required) for India unless you are comming from or passing through an infected country.

I was recommended the following :-

Diphtheria/Tetnus/Polio Booster
Hepatitis A and B
Typhoid
Meningitis ACWY
Rabies
Cholera

Japanese encephalitis was recommended only if I was going near Rice Fields or near Pigs. (Which I am not)
Influenza was left upto me!

I have already had Measles when I was a lot younger so I didn't need it.

I also had a TB jab when I was at school (was routine in the UK)

In the end it is upto you! (I would have Hep A but C not required)

Dave

P.S Oh don't forget your Maleria Tablets !!!!!

Zark · Dec 6th, 2006, 20:12

Coming from the UK, I have to have: Typhoid, Hep A and polio booster. Rabies is requred if going off the beaten track or staying for over a month (I think)

Naomi · Dec 6th, 2006, 20:27

cheers steambuff... i was given the exact same advice.

I just called the local Community Care centre in Galway (091-523122 for anyone in the area) and they have put me on a waiting list because they only give out the BCG one day a month (plus allowing for a additional appointment for the BCG skin test).

The best news i have had all day was that these shots are free which is a nice surprise considering i paid close to €700 for my other shots. But i literally had to get everything that was recommended, including Diphtheria/Tetnus/Polio Booster, this is not including my maleria tablets.

well at least i will have peace of mind.

(or mabye i just got ripped off)

SteamBuff · Dec 6th, 2006, 20:28

Hi
I'm also from the UK.

The Polio Booster also comes with Diphtheria and Tetnus in the same Jab (Revaxis).

Hep A and B come in the same shot (TwinRix)

The above + Typhoid should be Free from your local surgery.

Yes you are correct, Rabies is needed if you are going off the beaten track or spending a lot of time around animals.

Dave

Margot · Dec 22nd, 2006, 08:28

The US stopped the systematic administration of BCG a few decades ago, because a.it doesn't work very well and b.can cause false-positives in Tuberculin skin tests. Many people worldwide carry M tuberculosis and never know it.

Unless you are immunocmpromised or live in a high-burden country, getting BCG is not worh it, as it will not prevent you from getting TB but will make diagnosis for TB, should you have symptoms, more difficult.

Dec 6th, 2006, 18:20	#1
Naomi Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Galway Posts: 12	Is a TB shot necessary?? My partner and I are travelling India in Feb for 4 months. The doctor we saw at the tropical bureau advised us to because we were spending so long in India. We have had everything from polio to yellow fever to Hep B & C, rabies etc etc… Has anyone else travelled India without the TB vaccine?

Dec 6th, 2006, 19:19	#7
Naomi Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Galway Posts: 12	thanks again i have decided to go ahead and get it. Thanks for the info

Dec 22nd, 2006, 08:28	#14
Margot Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Delhi Posts: 39	No BCG necessary The US stopped the systematic administration of BCG a few decades ago, because a.it doesn't work very well and b.can cause false-positives in Tuberculin skin tests. Many people worldwide carry M tuberculosis and never know it. Unless you are immunocmpromised or live in a high-burden country, getting BCG is not worh it, as it will not prevent you from getting TB but will make diagnosis for TB, should you have symptoms, more difficult.

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Dec 6th, 2006, 18:24	#2
SANJAY_DEL Account Closed Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: NEW DELHI, INDIA Posts: 1,351	Go for the shot of BCG. It'll help boost your immunity to the real TB bacillus, which lurks in the air across India.

Dec 6th, 2006, 18:31	#3
SANJAY_DEL Account Closed Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: NEW DELHI, INDIA Posts: 1,351	Vaccine Expert Group/Country WHO CATMAT/Canada CDC/US CDSC/UK NHMRC/Australia Required vaccines Yellow fever Routine vaccines Diphtheria/tetanus * * * * * Polio Measles * * * * * Hepatitis B * * * * * Recommended vaccines Hepatitis A * * * * **/ Rabies * * * * * Typhoid fever * * * * * Meningococcal * * * *** * Japanese encephalitis * * * * * Tuberculosis * --/* -- * * Cholera c -- -- -- -- Influenza * * * * NA

Dec 6th, 2006, 18:35	#4
SANJAY_DEL Account Closed Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: NEW DELHI, INDIA Posts: 1,351	To explain the table, here is the recommendation for TB vaccine: Tuberculosis Based on results of tuberculin tests, the incidence rate of infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis is 3,000 per 100,000 person-months of travel, and of these people 60 per 100,000 have active tuberculosis. The prevalence of transmissible tuberculosis among air travelers is estimated to be 5 to 100 per 100,000 passengers. Transmission in flight or during prolonged train and bus rides has been reported only rarely, but documenting in-flight transmission is very hard owing to wide dispersal of passengers. Outdoor transmission is negligible, unless there is repeated exposure, as may occur among long-term, low-budget travelers or expatriates.[

Dec 6th, 2006, 19:02	#5
Naomi Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Galway Posts: 12	Thank you for the clarification. Just one more question. When you stated 'Based on results of tuberculin tests, the incidence rate of infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis is 3,000 per 100,000 person-months of travel, and of these people 60 per 100,000 have active tuberculosis'. The 60 persons per 100,000 you are referring to have active tuberculosis before travelling to india and the 3,000 per 100,000 are infected during travel to india. am i understanding this correctly?

Dec 6th, 2006, 19:11	#6
SANJAY_DEL Account Closed Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: NEW DELHI, INDIA Posts: 1,351	No, u got it wrong. The first number refers to people who catch the infection and the second number is for those with the infection who end up with the "active" disease process and not just the infection. Slightly techie, I guess. But the take home message is - go for the BCG shot coz there is a small risk of catching tuberculosis, which is perhaps the commonest bacterial infection in India.

Dec 6th, 2006, 19:21	#8
Naomi Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Galway Posts: 12	i have a habit of getting slightly confused

Dec 6th, 2006, 19:34	#9
SANJAY_DEL Account Closed Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: NEW DELHI, INDIA Posts: 1,351	M glad waz abul 2 CONvins u on dat !

Dec 6th, 2006, 20:04	#10
SteamBuff Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Essex, Endland Posts: 370	Hiya, Yellow Fever is not necessary (or required) for India unless you are comming from or passing through an infected country. I was recommended the following :- Diphtheria/Tetnus/Polio Booster Hepatitis A and B Typhoid Meningitis ACWY Rabies Cholera Japanese encephalitis was recommended only if I was going near Rice Fields or near Pigs. (Which I am not) Influenza was left upto me! I have already had Measles when I was a lot younger so I didn't need it. I also had a TB jab when I was at school (was routine in the UK) In the end it is upto you! (I would have Hep A but C not required) Dave P.S Oh don't forget your Maleria Tablets !!!!!

Dec 6th, 2006, 20:12	#11
Zark Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Nottingham, UK Posts: 22	Coming from the UK, I have to have: Typhoid, Hep A and polio booster. Rabies is requred if going off the beaten track or staying for over a month (I think)

Dec 6th, 2006, 20:27	#12
Naomi Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Galway Posts: 12	cheers steambuff... i was given the exact same advice. I just called the local Community Care centre in Galway (091-523122 for anyone in the area) and they have put me on a waiting list because they only give out the BCG one day a month (plus allowing for a additional appointment for the BCG skin test). The best news i have had all day was that these shots are free which is a nice surprise considering i paid close to €700 for my other shots. But i literally had to get everything that was recommended, including Diphtheria/Tetnus/Polio Booster, this is not including my maleria tablets. well at least i will have peace of mind. (or mabye i just got ripped off)

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Dec 6th, 2006, 20:28	#13
SteamBuff Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Essex, Endland Posts: 370	Hi I'm also from the UK. The Polio Booster also comes with Diphtheria and Tetnus in the same Jab (Revaxis). Hep A and B come in the same shot (TwinRix) The above + Typhoid should be Free from your local surgery. Yes you are correct, Rabies is needed if you are going off the beaten track or spending a lot of time around animals. Dave