Neonatal BCG vaccination

​In accordance with the Finnish national vaccination program, children under 7 at an increased risk of tuberculosis infection are entitled to free BCG vaccination. More information is available on the National Institute for Health and Welfare website.

Babies born in the HUS hospitals are vaccinated once the results of the SCID screening are available. SCID-screening is a part of the blood samples from newborn babies for screening. SCID is an inherited condition in which the body’s immune system is impaired. As a result, the child’s immune system’s ability to defend itself against infections is compromised. Due to the immunodeficiency, the child must not be administered live, attenuated vaccines (BCG, rotavirus, MMR or chickenpox vaccines). Therefore, the BCG vaccine is given only if it has been proven that the child does not have SCID.

Babies belonging to the risk group born in the HUS hospitals are administered the BCG vaccine at a separate appointment. The results of the screening are available in approximately two weeks and the vaccine is administered if the SCID result is normal.

Neonates belonging to a risk group are given the BCG vaccine as follows:

• Babies born in the Women's Hospital are given the vaccine at the Pediatric Healthcare and Social Welfare Cooperation Center of the Children’s Castle hospital.
• Babies born in the Espoo Hospital are given the vaccine at the L2 Appointments of Jorvi Hospital.
• Babies born in the Hyvinkää Hospital are given the vaccine at the Pediatric Outpatient Clinic
  

The staff of the maternity ward will schedule an appointment for the vaccination before discharge. If a vaccination appointment has not been scheduled for a child, but they belong to a risk group, please contact the units specified above. You can also contact maternity wards in:

• Women's Hospital
• Espoo Hospital
• Hyvinkää Hospital