MedicinehospitalEssential

Bcg Vaccine

A live vaccine given to prevent tuberculosis in people at high risk.

Clinical information

Common uses

preventing tuberculosis in high-risk, previously uninfected people

Common side effects

sore, hardened injection site with a small pustule
swollen lymph nodes in the armpit or neck
short flu-like symptoms (fever, aches) lasting 1–2 days
itching at the vaccination site

Cautions

not for people with weakened immune systems (HIV, leukaemia, immunosuppressants)
not a treatment for active tuberculosis
given only by skin puncture — never injected
rare serious spread of the vaccine strain (disseminated BCG) can occur

Interactions

antibiotics or immunosuppressive medicines (may blunt the vaccine response)
other live vaccines (give at least 30 days apart)

Pregnancy: not recommended during pregnancy

Reference information, not medical advice — always follow your doctor or pharmacist. Source: DailyMed, dailymed.nlm.nih.gov, BCG VACCINE (TICE strain) label, setid a83f0b99-9038-4c5a-aaac-8792b32838fe (accessed 2026-08-16)

Approved brands & formulations3

Brand name	Dosage form	Strength	Importer	Category
Bcg Vaccine	Parenteral ( Injection )	—	—	hospital
Bcg Vaccine ( Bacillus Calmette Guerin )	Parenteral ( Live Freeze-dried vaccine )	2 x 102 and 8 x 105 C.F.U in 0.1ml	—	hospital
BCG Vaccine (Freeze Dried)	Parenteral ( Vaccine )	2 x 105 & 8 x 105 C.F.U	authorized importers after registration of the product	hospital