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If this hypothesis about BCG vaccination leading to reduced susceptibility to #Covid19 proves right, i am giving myself a special pat on the back.
A real story in Thread.
A real story in Thread.
Year 2006. I was working as doctor with NHS at a hospital in West Sussex in England. My younger daughter was born late in the evening (normal delivery) and She was about to be discharged in the morning.
I asked for BCG vaccination. In India it is given to all new borns before discharge from hospital.
I was told, whats the hurry. She can get it anytime in next 6 months.
I was told, whats the hurry. She can get it anytime in next 6 months.
I tried to convince them that we are an Indian family. My newborn daughters all 3 family members are born and brought up in India. We are known to have the bacteria sitting in our lungs. Please don't send her home without BCG.
It was escalated step by step. I was labelled as "difficult" and "insistent". Fortunately one doctor in the decision pyramid knew what I was worried about and he arranged for BCG.
Another doctor (trained in Iraq) had to be called from a hospital 30miles away as there was no one available locally.
NHS does these things for you. They go out of their way for help.
Finally we got it all done before lunchtime and went home happily.
Finally we got it all done before lunchtime and went home happily.
Doctors who have worked in NHS will appreciate how much work this must have involved for the NHS manager to make this happen. But she did it.
I was so glad then. Because as a doctor i knew that taking a newborn to Indian home without BCG has its clear dangers and my daughter won't have to face those because of help from NHS.
Now that some research papers are claiming enhanced immunity against #COVID19 for people who received BCG vaccine, i remember NHS, the manager and a doctor from Iraq. I hope they are safe in this raging epidemic in UK.
I am a firm believer that Universal Healthcare for All, paid by taxpayer is the only sensible and humane model of healthcare in this world. (That's NHS)
With all the criticism NHS receives, it still remains a great system.
With all the criticism NHS receives, it still remains a great system.
Please unroll @threadreaderapp
