Thick blisters on the newborn's arm after vaccination

The vaccination for newborns is actually the BCG vaccine, which is of great significance for the prevention of tuberculosis. Getting vaccinations is a good thing, but some parents have found that their children have pustules on the injection sites on their arms after getting the shots. This sudden abnormality will definitely make parents very worried. It is normal for newborns to have thick blisters on their arms after vaccinations, and they will not be a big problem if handled correctly.

Why should babies be vaccinated with BCG?

It should be noted that newborn infants and young children are the main targets of BCG vaccination, and it is of great significance to prevent tuberculosis. BCG vaccination can produce immunity to tuberculosis infection, control future tuberculosis infection, and greatly reduce the chances of miliary tuberculosis, tuberculous meningitis and other secondary tuberculosis.

Will small pustules appear on my arms after receiving BCG vaccination?

About 2 weeks after BCG vaccination, more than 90% of people will experience redness and swelling at the vaccination site, followed by suppuration, ulceration, and scab formation. The whole process lasts for 3-4 months to half a year, and finally heals to form a scar, commonly known as a BCG scar. In fact, this is a side effect of BCG vaccination, but because most people will experience it, everyone is accustomed to thinking that having BCG scars is a normal reaction.

Some people say that if no small pustules appear, it means that the vaccination is unsuccessful and you must go to the hospital for a booster shot. Is that true?

This is an old saying from many years ago, but it is actually not correct. After vaccination with BCG, 5%-10% of the vaccine recipients will not form BCG scars, but this does not mean that the vaccination is unsuccessful. The guidance from the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention is that children who have been vaccinated with BCG should not be given booster shots even if no scars have formed.

To put it simply, as long as the baby is vaccinated with BCG after birth, there is no need to vaccinate again regardless of whether small pustules appear or not, and generally there is no need to go to the hospital for a follow-up examination.

How long will it take for the pustules to go away? Can I touch water during this period? What if it gets ulcerated?

About 2-3 weeks after BCG vaccination, redness and swelling will appear at the vaccination site, and small pustules will gradually form, followed by ulcers. The process lasts for 2-3 weeks, and then scabs gradually form. After about 3-4 months, the scabs fall off to form scars. As for how long it will take for the scar to fade, it depends on the individual's skin repair condition.

Small pustules will appear after vaccination, and you can usually bathe normally. It is of course better not to come into contact with water during the bath, but if you do come into contact with water, it’s okay, just wipe it dry immediately and keep it dry. If there is purulent ulceration, just wipe it dry with a dry cotton ball and wait for the scab to form again. Avoid applying disinfectants such as alcohol and iodine, and it is best not to use Band-Aids or wrap gauze.

If the area of ​​the pustular ulcer is large and the local abscess is obvious, it is recommended to go to the hospital for treatment.