The BCG vaccination (Bacillus Calmette-Guérin) is a vaccination against tuberculosis (TB). In Germany, this vaccination was given to newborns and children until the 1990s to protect them from severe forms of tuberculosis. Since 1998, the BCG vaccination has no longer been recommended by the Standing Committee on Vaccination (STIKO) in Germany.

The reasons for this are the trade-off between the low risk of infection in Germany and the possible risk of side effects from the BCG vaccination. In addition, the vaccination does not provide sufficient protection against infection or the occurrence of tuberculosis in adults and is therefore less effective in older age groups. Instead, targeted measures such as the early detection and treatment of tuberculosis cases are used to contain the disease.

However, the BCG vaccination is still used in countries where tuberculosis is widespread, as it can prevent serious complications such as meningitis, especially in children.

In Germany, the BCG vaccination is not recommended for children or adults. The STIKO is thus following the advice of the World Health Organization (WHO) not to carry out a general tuberculosis vaccination in countries with a tuberculosis infection risk of less than 0.1 percent. There is no longer a vaccine licensed in Germany. BCG is available internationally, but due to the lack of a vaccination recommendation, there is no entitlement to care in the event of possible vaccination damage.

Intensive research is also being carried out in Germany to develop a new and more effective vaccine.