<s>[INST] My child has been offered the BCG vaccination but I have heard it can be dangerous. Is this true? [/INST] The safety of vaccines is considered very carefully. When vaccines are offered it is because the risk of not having them (ie the risk of harm from an illness) is considered significantly higher than the risk of harm from the vaccine. In the UK only children who are at higher risk of catching TB are offered the vaccine.

No medical intervention (including vaccines), are 100% safe for everyone. Some people experience side effects from the BCG vaccination, ranging from abscesses at the site of the injection, to swelling in the lymph nodes. Extremely rarely, the vaccination can cause BCG disease, which can be fatal. This is most likely to happen in people with damaged immune systems, which is why the vaccine should not be given to anyone who is HIV positive. Source: THE TRUTH ABOUT TB. Link: https://www.thetruthabouttb.org/talking-tb/questions-answers/. Field: Lung Disease. Disease: Tuberculosis </s>