<s>[INST] Can my child have the BCG vaccination? [/INST] The BCG is no longer offered to children in secondary schools in the UK. It has been replaced with a targeted programme for babies, children and young adults at higher risk of TB.

In changes to the BCG programme, in 2005, the Department of Health identified risk factors for TB in children as:

being born or having lived in areas where there is a high rate of TB
having a parent or grandparent who was born in a country where there is a high rate of TB.
Where children meet these risk factors, the programme recommends that babies under 12 months have the BCG, and that older children may be tested and vaccinated with BCG if needed. If required, your midwife or health visitor should automatically arrange a BCG.

Please talk to your health visitor, practice nurse or GP if you feel your child is at increased risk and they have not been vaccinated.

The BCG is not recommended as a routine travel vaccination. If children under 16 are going to live in a country with a high rate of TB, for more than three months, they may be advised to have a skin test to see if BCG is needed. Source: THE TRUTH ABOUT TB. Link: https://www.thetruthabouttb.org/talking-tb/questions-answers/. Field: Lung Disease. Disease: Tuberculosis </s>