Overview
The Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine provides some protection against tuberculosis (TB) and is given to high-risk infants (0-12 months):
- If the incidence is ≥40/100,000 per year in their area
- Parent/grandparent born in a country where incidence is ≥40/100,000 per year
- This applies to older children but if they are ≥6, a tuberculin (Mantoux) skin test should be done first
- Unvaccinated, tuberculin-negative contacts of respiratory TB
- Unvaccinated, tuberculin-negative new entrants <16 years old born in/lived for >3 months in a country where incidence is ≥40/100,000 per year
- Healthcare workers
- Prison staff
- Staff of care homes
- Working with homeless people
The vaccine is not given to anyone >35 years old as there is no evidence it works in this age group. It is also not given to people with a positive tuberculin skin test as it can cause severe local inflammation and scarring.
