Although tuberculosis or TB is not common in the UK, it
is still prevalent in Asia and Africa. The BCG vaccine is
given to protect against TB. TB is an infection that
affects the lungs primarily but can also affect the bones
and brain. The BCG vaccine is only given to children at
risk of being exposed to this infection. This vaccine may
be administered shortly after birth or between 10 and 14
years of age. Some hospitals run batch sessions where
babies born recently are all vaccinated in one session.