What is Tuberculosis (TB)?
Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease caused by bacteria. It most commonly affects the lungs, but it can affect other parts of the body, including the brain, bones and lymph nodes. TB can be particularly serious in babies and young children.
The BCG vaccine helps protect against the most severe forms of TB in young children. While TB is less common in the UK than in many other countries, some babies have a higher risk of coming into contact with the disease because of family connections or travel to countries where TB is more common.
Vaccination helps reduce the risk of serious illness and complications caused by TB.
Part of the NHS School Aged Immunisation Service
Your baby may be eligible if:
If you are unsure whether your baby is eligible, speak to your GP, Midwife or Health Visitor.
You can also check the TB Profile – select the country the baby was born, then select the data tables (see image below).
If the rate per 100,000 is over 40, your baby is eligible for the BCG vaccine.
TB is spread through tiny droplets released into the air when a person with TB in their lungs or throat coughs or sneezes. Most people who become infected have spent a significant amount of time in close contact with an infected person, such as living in the same household.
TB cannot be spread through touching, hugging, sharing food, bedding or cutlery.
Symptoms of TB can vary depending on which part of the body is affected. Signs may include:
If you are concerned about any symptoms in your child or family members, seek medical advice.
The BCG vaccine is given as a small injection just under the top layer of the skin, into the upper left arm. It is much less painful than an injection into the muscle.
Eligible babies are usually offered the vaccine shortly after birth, often within the first 28 days of life. It is clinically safe for babies to receive the BCG vaccine after 28 days of life.
There are very few side effects from the BCG vaccine. The most common reaction is a small local reaction where the vaccine was given. This may include a small red spot, blister or sore, which can take several months to heal and likely to leave a small scar. This is a normal part of the body’s response to the vaccine. Temperatures are unusual with BCG vaccination. Please read the patient information leaflet for more details about possible side effects and what to expect after the vaccination. In rare cases the lymph glands in the armpit can become enlarged and the localise reaction may become larger than expected for a period of time. This all heels and the heeling time varies from baby to baby.
If you have concerns you can contact your GP or call 111.
After vaccination:
This is a normal part of the healing process and can take several months.
Your baby may have had a dried blood spot test (heel prick) around 5 days of age to test for a number of rare conditions. Part of this tests for Severe Combined Immunodeficiency (SCID) which is a rare condition where a baby’s immune system is affected.
If your baby is under 6 months, we need get these results before your appointment to ensure it is safe to administer BCG vaccine. The nurse will ask for this at your appointment.
If you do not hear from Vaccination UK BCG Team, within 2 to 6 weeks from the baby’s birth, please inform your Health Visitor.
Vaccination appointments are delivered in community clinics, helping families access the service safely and conveniently.
No. The BCG vaccine is only offered to babies and children who are at increased risk of coming into contact with TB.
Yes. It is safe for your baby to have the BCG vaccine at the same time as other routine childhood vaccinations, as long as your baby is well on the day of the appointment. We aim to protect your baby as soon as possible, so please do not delay the BCG vaccine unless your baby is unwell or you have been advised to do so by a healthcare professional.
If you are unsure about the timing of your baby’s vaccinations, please contact our team for advice before your appointment.
Most children will develop a small scar on their upper arm after the vaccination site has healed. This is normal and expected.
If you believe your baby is eligible but have not received an appointment, please contact your local Vaccination UK BCG team for advice.
No, Iraq and Iran are not currently considered high risk for TB, therefore if your baby’s parents or grandparents were born in either of these countries, they would not be invited for the BCG vaccine.
Premature babies can usually have the BCG vaccine if they are well enough on the day of the appointment and meet the eligibility criteria. The nurse will check your baby’s health and SCID screening result before giving the vaccine to make sure it is safe to proceed.
If your baby is still unwell, very small, or receiving care in hospital, the BCG vaccine may be delayed until they are clinically stable and ready to have it.
Every baby in the UK is entitled to a BCG vaccination
The BCG vaccine is not part of the routine vaccination programme for all babies in the UK. It is offered to babies who meet specific eligibility criteria because they are at a higher risk of being exposed to tuberculosis (TB).
If I ask for the BCG vaccine, my baby should be able to receive it through Vaccination UK
Vaccination UK can only offer the BCG vaccine to babies who meet the eligibility criteria within our commissioned service. If your baby is not eligible under the programme, we are unable to provide the vaccine, even if it is requested by a parent or carer.
My baby isn’t eligible because they are too young or because appointments are limited
Eligibility is based on risk factors for TB exposure, not age, demand for appointments. If your baby meets the eligibility criteria, they will be offered an appointment. If they do not meet the criteria, they will not routinely be offered the vaccine through our service.
My baby needs to complete the routine vaccination before receiving the BCG
No, it is completely safe for babies to receive the BCG vaccine before completing the routine immunisation schedule.
The BCG vaccine can only be given before the age of 28 days
No, it is clinically safe for babies to receive the BCG vaccine after the age of 28 days.
My baby is travelling to a high risk country therefore they need the BCG vaccine
If your baby or child under 16 years of age is travelling to a country where there is a high risk of TB for 3 months or more, BCG vaccination is recommended.
Unfortunately, we are not commissioned to provide BCG vaccination for travel purposes under the NHS. This means we are unable to offer this vaccine outside of our NHS contract. If you would like your child to have the BCG vaccine for travel, you will need to arrange this privately through a travel health clinic or private healthcare provider.
North East London
Barking & Dagenham, Havering, Redbridge, Waltham Forest, Newham ,Tower Hamlets
Email – [email protected]
Phone – 0203 828 1777
Inner London
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Phone – 0203 828 1777
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Phone – 0208 150 1688
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Phone – 0208 154 7998
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