“Is there any vaccine for tuberculosis?”

There is an immunization for TB called BCG. It has been used extensively in Mexico and other countries for decades, but it is not a good vaccine and it is not uncommon for exposed patients (including children) to develop TB in spite of the BCG vaccine. The BCG is not recommended or given in the USA because infectious disease experts and the CDC do not believe it is useful in preventing TB.

Some countries use what is called BCG to help reduce the chances of being infected with TB. It is not currently used in the United States. It can be given in the eventuality that a child has prolonged contact with an infected adult. Most practitioners do not give this vaccine. It is used in countries where the prevalence of TB is very high.

Michael G. Martin, MD

A vaccine for tb is not routinely given in the US. Some other countries with a high incidence of TB get the vaccine but it then makes the TB skin test positive that we use to test of tb.