Request a BCG vaccination

Important information to read before booking a BCG vaccination appointment

In NSW, BCG vaccine is recommended for:

  • children younger than 5 years of age who are travelling for 4 weeks or more to a country or countries where TB is common
  • children younger than 5 years of age considered by TB services to be at ongoing risk of TB exposure in Australia
  • children younger then 5 years of age who live with someone with Hansen’s disease (leprosy)
  • healthcare workers travelling overseas to work in a country where BCG vaccination is required or strongly recommended.

BCG is a live vaccine. People who need more than one live vaccine injection should either:

  • have all their vaccine injected on the same day, or
  • allow at least 4 weeks between the BCG and other live injected vaccines.

Other live infected vaccines include measles, mumps, rubella, varicella, zoster and yellow fever vaccines.

The vaccine can take 3 months to provide protection against TB. The BCG vaccine should ideally be given 3 months before travel to a country where TB is common.

A tuberculin skin test (Mantoux test or TST) is needed prior to BCG vaccination if the person to be vaccinated:

  • was born in a country where TB is common
  • has lived or travelled to a country or region where TB is common
  • has been in close contact with a person with lung TB.
This requires 2 visits to the vaccination clinic 48-72 hours apart.

Read the guidance for parents and carers: travelling overseas with children and the risk of tuberculosis.

Request a BCG vaccination

There is limited availability for BCG vaccinations in NSW Health clinics. We recommend submitting a request 4-6 months before travel.

You should recieve a response within 10 working days, usually by email. Please check your spam or junk folders.

Complete and submit a request for BCG vaccination .

More information​

For more information, please see BCG vaccination information for patients and families​​.​​​​​​​​

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Current as at: Monday 13 February 2023
Contact page owner: Communicable Diseases