What is bcg vaccine used for

In this case you should not be given the BCG vaccine because you already have some immunity to TB, and the vaccine may cause unpleasant side effects. If you have no reaction to the skin test, this is a negative result, and you can safely have the BCG vaccine. At first it was offered to children of school leaving age 14 years old because TB was most common in young adults at this time. Rates of TB in the UK were already falling, and they continued to fall after the vaccine was introduced.

In the s it was realised that there were higher numbers of TB cases in people coming to the UK from countries with high rates of TB. Vaccination of all children aged continued until , when it was decided that TB rates in the general population had fallen to such a low level that universal BCG vaccination was no longer needed. The UK programme now targets babies and children who are most at risk of exposure to TB, with the aim of preventing the more serious childhood forms of TB.

The vaccine is given just under the skin intradermally , usually in the left upper arm. This is the recommended site, so that small scar left after vaccination can be easily found in the future as evidence of previous vaccination.

No other vaccine should be given in the same limb as the BCG for three months afterwards, because of the risk of lymphadenitis an enlarged lymph node that becomes infected. Tuberculosis TB is caused by a type of bacterium called Mycobacterium. There are Read more. Medical content reviewed by Professor Andrew Pollard. Please click here to contact us if you have comments about the Vaccine Knowledge website. You should consult your doctor or other healthcare provider if you need specific advice on vaccines for you or your child.

Skip to main content. If the BCG vaccine is recommended for your baby, it will usually be offered at about 28 days old. This may be offered at a hospital, a local healthcare centre or, occasionally, at your GP surgery. BCG vaccination may also be recommended for older children who have an increased risk of developing TB, such as:.

BCG vaccination is rarely given to anyone over the age of 16 because there is little evidence it works very well in adults. But it's given to adults aged 16 to 35 who are at risk of TB through their work, such as some healthcare workers, veterinary staff and abattoir workers. If you're offered BCG vaccination as an adult, it will usually be arranged through your local occupational health department.

Find out more about who should have the BCG vaccine. It does not tell whether the person has latent TB infection or has progressed to TB disease. Other tests, such as a chest x-ray and a sample of sputum, are needed to see whether the person has TB disease.

Skip directly to site content Skip directly to page options Skip directly to A-Z link. Tuberculosis TB. Section Navigation. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Syndicate. BCG vaccination of health care workers should be considered on an individual basis in settings in which.

BCG vaccination should not be given to persons who are immunosuppressed e. BCG vaccination should not be given during pregnancy. Even though no harmful effects of BCG vaccination on the fetus have been observed, further studies are needed to prove its safety.

BCG vaccination may cause a false-positive reaction to the TST, which may complicate decisions about prescribing treatment. See below for specific guidance on skin test results. TB Blood Tests. Persons in the following high-risk groups should be given treatment for LTBI if their reaction to the TST is at least 5 mm of induration or they have a positive result using a TB blood test:. In addition, persons in the following high-risk groups should be considered for treatment of LTBI if their reaction to the TST is at least 10 mm of induration or they have a positive result using a TB blood test:.

Persons with no known risk factors for TB may be considered for treatment of LTBI if their reaction to the tuberculin test is at least 15 mm of induration or they have a positive result using a TB blood test.