Infectious Diseases - Tuberculosis and BCG Immunisation Programme

Following advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) the current universal BCG vaccination programme delivered through schools will be replaced with an improved programme of targeted vaccinations for those individuals who are at the greatest risk.

The new programme will identify and vaccinate babies and older people who are most likely to catch the disease, especially in those areas with a high rate of TB or whose parents or grandparents were born in a TB high prevalence country.

The new programme will be introduced from September 2005.

For further information on changes to BCG vaccination programme, link to CMO letter HSS(MD)25/2005 (PDF 37 KB).
For further information on TB and BCG link to NHS immunisation website.
For further information on Updated Guidance on Tuberculosis Control in Northern Ireland link to HSS(MD) 10/2006 (PDF 102 KB) (This includes Appendices 2 and 3 on Newborn Risk Assessment and Child Risk Assessment)