• The following recommended best practices outline the way neonatal BCG immunisations should be administered to infants within Newborn Services to ensure safe outcomes to baby and staff.

• This document covers the following topics relating to the administration of BCG vaccinations to infants within Newborn Services.
• To be used in conjunction with Ministry of Health guidelines.

• The following policy/recommended best practices outline the way in which BCG immunisation is administered to ensure safety and best outcome.

• Applies to all Nurses within the Newborn Service who:

1. Are gazetted by the Ministry of Health to administer neonatal BCG vaccine.
2. Care for babies who meet the recommended criteria for BCG immunisation.

• Criteria for neonatal BCG immunisation is set by the Ministry of Health. The FLN completes the Tuberculosis High Risk Assessment Form with parents.
• Neonatal BCG should be offered to infants at increased risk of tuberculosis, defined as those who:
  • Will be living in a house or family/whanau with a person with either current tuberculosis or a past history of tuberculosis.
  • Have one or both parents who identify as being Pacific people.
  • Have parents or household members who have lived* within the last five years in countries where there is a high incident of TB**
  • During their first five years will be living for 3 months or longer in a high incidence country**.

* lived = longer than 12 months.

** All countries except Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Greece, Holland, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, New Zealand, Norway, Slovakia, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom and the United States of America.

• These infants who are otherwise well and:

1. Meet the Ministry of Health criteria
2. Of progressing maturity; feeding and growing satisfactorily; at or near 2000g

May be given BCG vaccine, if no contra-indications apply.

• The Family Liaison Nurse discusses with parent the BCG vaccination criteria for newborn. BCG Consent form signed by parent.

• Dr/NS-ANP prescribes on mediation chart, stat page 0.05mls intradermally.

• Refer to A+ Public Health Nurses/Medical Officer Health
  Ph: 262-1855.