What is Bcg Vaccine: Uses, Warnings & Interactions

Updated May 14, 2025  •  Published Dec 30, 2020

Bcg Vaccine overview

BRAND NAMES:

  • BCG Vaccine

Generic Names:

  • Bcg Vaccine

Uses:

  • Prevents tuberculosis (TB). This medicine is a vaccine, and is also called BCG vaccine.

Therapeutic Classes:

  • Vaccine

Forms:

  • Injectable

How it’s taken:

  • By injection

What is Bcg Vaccine used for?

What form(s) does Bcg Vaccine come in

  • Injectable

What are common Bcg Vaccine doses?

  • Injectable

Common Bcg Vaccine prescriptions

  • BCG Vaccine
    50mg solution reconstituted

How to take Bcg Vaccine

  • This medicine can be given to a baby, a young child, or an adult.

  • Injection routeA nurse or other health provider will give you this medicine.

  • Injection routeYour doctor will prescribe your exact dose and tell you how often it should be given. This medicine is given as a shot under your skin.

  • This medicine can be given to a baby, a young child, or an adult.

  • Injection routeA nurse or other health provider will give you this medicine.

  • Injection routeYour doctor will prescribe your exact dose and tell you how often it should be given. This medicine is given as a shot under your skin.

What to do if you miss a dose of Bcg Vaccine

Bcg Vaccine contraindications

  • You or your child should not receive this shot if you have a weak immune system for any reason. You should not receive this shot if you have an allergy to BCG vaccine. You or your child should not receive this shot if you have a disease known as HIV or AIDS. You should not receive this shot if you have a severe skin disease or skin infection.

Bcg Vaccine warnings

  • Tell your doctor about any person that you live with who has a weak immune system.

  • Severe headache, drowsiness, or body aches.

  • Make sure your doctor knows if you or your child have a disease that weakens the immune system.

  • Make sure your doctor knows if you have ever had a bad reaction to BCG vaccine.

  • Make sure your doctor knows if you are pregnant or breast feeding.

Bcg Vaccine interactions

  • Tell your doctor about any person that you live with who has a weak immune system.

  • Make sure your doctor knows if you or your child have a disease that weakens the immune system.

  • Make sure your doctor knows if you have ever had a bad reaction to BCG vaccine.

  • This medicine may interfere with vaccines. Ask your doctor before you get a flu shot or any other vaccines.

Bcg Vaccine side effects

Serious Side Effects

  • Severe headache, drowsiness, or body aches.

  • Allergic reaction: Itching or hives, swelling in your face or hands, swelling or tingling in your mouth or throat, chest tightness, trouble breathing

  • Extreme fussiness, crying, or discomfort in a young child.

  • High fever, chills, or vomiting.

  • Infection, swelling, or severe pain where the shot was given.

Less Serious Side Effects

  • Pain, itching, burning, swelling, or a lump under the skin where the shot was given.

  • Large red sore on your skin where the shot was given.

  • Pain in your joints.

  • Mild fever or a very sore arm that lasts more than a few days.

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