High-Yield MSRA Blog: BCG Vaccine, UK Vaccination Schedule, and Vaccine Types
- examiner mla
- Jul 15
- 2 min read
Updated: Aug 11
💉 BCG (Tuberculosis) Vaccine
✅ Who Can Have BCG:
Individuals at high risk of TB (e.g., from or in contact with high-incidence countries)
Healthcare workers at occupational risk
Asplenic or hyposplenic individuals (they can receive live vaccines including BCG)
❌ Who Should Not Have BCG:
Previous BCG vaccination
Positive tuberculin skin test (Mantoux)
Past history of TB infection
Severe allergic reaction to a BCG component
Septic skin lesions at the injection site
Infants born to mothers on immunosuppressants (defer until full evaluation)
Known or suspected SCID
Immunosuppressed individuals (HIV, chemotherapy, blood cancers, immunosuppressive drugs)
Pregnant women (defer until postpartum)
People over age 16, unless at very high risk (efficacy is limited in adults)
⚡ Exam Triggers (MSRA):
Positive Mantoux → do not give BCG
Asplenic patient → can receive all vaccines including BCG
Pregnant or immunocompromised → avoid all live vaccines including BCG
🎓 UK Childhood Immunisation Schedule (2025)
Age | Vaccines Given |
8 weeks | 6-in-1 (DTaP/IPV/Hib/HepB), MenB (1), Rotavirus (1) |
12 weeks | 6-in-1 (2), MenB (2), Rotavirus (2) |
16 weeks | 6-in-1 (3), PCV (1) |
1 year | Hib/MenC (for children born ≤ 30 June 2024), PCV booster(2), MMR (1), MenB booster(3) |
18 months | 6-in-1 (4) (4th dose for children born ≥ 1 July 2024), MMR (2) (for those born ≥ July 2024) |
2 to 17 years | Annual nasal flu (LAIV) each autumn/winter (every year until children finish Year 11 of secondary school) |
3y 4m | Pre-school booster: 4-in-1 (DTaP/IPV), MMR (2) (for those born ≤ June 2024) |
12–13 years | HPV vaccine (2 doses) |
14 years | Td/IPV vaccine (3-in-1 teenage booster) MenACWY vaccine |
⚡ Exam Pearls:
LAIV (Live Attenuated Influenza Vaccine): Nasal spray, annual, contraindicated in severe asthma, immunosuppression, or aspirin use
MMR timing differs depending on birth cohort (check for July 2024 cutoff)
MenB moved earlier to 12 weeks in updated schedule
🧪 Vaccine Types & High-Yield Characteristics
Type | Examples | Key Points |
Live Attenuated | MMR, BCG, Yellow Fever, Nasal Flu, Oral Typhoid | Strong immunity, contraindicated in immunocompromised or pregnancy |
Inactivated | Rabies, Hep A, IPV, JE (IXIARO) | Safe in immunocompromised, but may need boosters |
Toxoid | Tetanus, Diphtheria, Pertussis toxoid | Targets bacterial toxins; used in combination vaccines |
Subunit (Recombinant) | HPV, Hep B, MenB | Contains fragments, safe, needs adjuvants and multiple doses |
Conjugate | Hib, MenC, PCV, MenACWY | Polysaccharide + protein, especially effective in infants/young children |
🔎 Special Notes on Travel Vaccines
🌏 Whole Killed (Inactivated) Travel Vaccines (Used in UK):
Rabies vaccine
Japanese Encephalitis vaccine (IXIARO)
Both are safe in pregnancy and immunosuppressed patients.
⚠ Live Travel Vaccines:
Yellow Fever vaccine
Oral Typhoid vaccine
Contraindicated in pregnancy and immunosuppression
📝 Summary Table: Live vs Inactivated Vaccines
Live Vaccines | Inactivated / Safe in Immunocompromised |
MMR, BCG, Oral Typhoid, LAIV, Yellow Fever | Rabies, IPV, Hep A, JE, Hep B, HPV, Tetanus, Diphtheria, PCV |
✨ Final Takeaway for MSRA
BCG: Only for high-risk TB individuals → avoid in immunocompromised/pregnancy
UK Schedule: Memorise age-specific vaccines; know cohort cutoffs (MMR, MenB)
Vaccine Types: Know which are live, which are killed, and contraindications
📚 References
Comments