Is there a vaccination against TB?

Yes, the BCG.  It is a weakened strain of TB which builds up immunity, and encourages the body to fight TB if infected. Though BCG gives some people protection against TB, it cannot prevent everyone who comes into contact with it from getting ill.

The BCG, which stands for Bacille Calmette-Guérin, is a weakened strain of a form of the TB germ. It works by encouraging the body to fight TB by building up immunity. While BCG can give some people some protection against TB it does not protect everyone it is given to. It is thought to protect up to 80% of people for a maximum of 15 years. Most people in this country who get TB have already had the BCG. It is less effective in countries nearer the equator – where TB is often more common.

It is not possible to control the disease using the BCG as there will always be people who get ill despite having had the vaccine, and they will continue to pass it on. Until a better vaccine is developed the best control we have for TB is to make sure people know what the symptoms are so they visit a doctor and get diagnosed as early as possible, and to make sure they take all their tablets until the TB bacteria are killed off.