Immunisation programs
Immunisation programs offered through the National Immunisation Program and SA Health funded immunisation programs
SA Tuberculosis services (SA TB services) in Central Adelaide Local Health Network (CALHN) provides State-wide and regional services for tuberculosis patients living in the CALHN area as well as patients referred from rural and remote areas.
A BCG (Bacillus Calmette–Guérin) vaccine is available for Tuberculosis (TB) but it is not part of the routine childhood immunisation program. The vaccine does not prevent TB infection but can protect against severe forms of tuberculosis. When given to infants and young children, it minimises the risk of death, meningitis, and disseminated TB.
BCG vaccine is only provided through the SATB service. All patients requiring a tuberculin skin test or BCG vaccination will need to be referred to the Adelaide Chest Clinic.
The vaccine that is currently available in Australia is not registered by the Therapeutic Goods Administration. Please read both of the BCG fact sheets below before requesting a BCG vaccination.
We will contact you within 15 working days of your request. You will need to allow several weeks for your appointment. The BCG vaccine should be given 3 months prior to travel.
In South Australia, the BCG vaccine is recommended for children 5 years of age and under who:
A high TB incidence country is defined in the Australian Immunisation Handbook as a country with an incidence rate of greater than 40 cases of active TB per 100,000 population per year, as per the World Health Organisation Global TB Report.
BCG is no longer routinely recommended for health workers but may be considered for those who are at high risk of exposure to multi-drug resistant TB cases.
Children older than 6 months will need a tuberculin skin test (TST) prior to vaccination. The tuberculin skin test should be delayed until 4 weeks after any injected live vaccine.
BCG is a live vaccine and must be given on either the same day or 4 weeks before or after other injectable live vaccines (for example Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR), yellow fever, Varicella (chicken pox), or shingles).
Chest Clinic, SA TB services, Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, SA
Telephone: (08) 7117 2967
Email: health.rahthoracicmedicine@sa.gov.au