The HSE has launched a new BCG vaccination programme for babies under 12 months of age who are at a higher risk of coming into contact with tuberculosis (TB).
TB is an infectious disease that usually affects the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body. While TB is uncommon in Ireland, some babies are at a higher risk of exposure. The BCG vaccine helps protect babies from the most severe forms of TB, including TB meningitis.
The programme offers BCG vaccination to eligible babies and will be rolled out in a phased way, starting with babies born from 1st June 2026. Parents and guardians are encouraged to learn more about the vaccine and speak with their healthcare professional if they have any questions about eligibility.
Eligibility Criteria
The BCG vaccine is recommended for babies under 12 months of age who are at a higher risk of coming into contact with tuberculosis (TB).
This includes babies who:
- Live with someone who was born in a country with high TB rates.
- Were born in, or have lived for more than three months in, a country with high TB rates and have not already received the BCG vaccine.
- Were born to parents, or are in regular contact with people, who have untreated TB.
From time to time public health may recommend other people to receive the vaccine
The HSE will be implementing the programme in a phased way, starting with babies born from 1st June 2026.
For more information, visit hse.ie/bcg.
Resources for Parents and Families
A suite of public information materials has been developed to support parents and guardians in making an informed decision about vaccination. These include an information leaflet, posters and an easy-to-read infographic developed for people with lower literacy levels.
To help improve accessibility, the infographic has been translated into additional community languages.
Public-facing resources are available to download from healthpromotion.ie
Resources for Healthcare Workers
Eligibility criteria for the programme are based on National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC) guidance. Each Health Region is developing their BCG programme and referral pathways. The National Immunisation Office (NIO) has also developed a range of resources to support programme delivery, including referral forms, consent forms, after-vaccination information tear pads and clinical guidance materials.
Healthcare workers can also access a guidance sheet based on World Health Organization (WHO) TB burden estimates, which identifies countries with higher TB incidence, this can be used to assess eligibility.
Healthcare worker resources are available at: https://healthservice.hse.ie/staff/information-healthcare-workers/national-immunisation-office/
The NIO recently hosted a BCG information webinar for healthcare workers and stakeholders. The session provided an overview of the programme, eligibility criteria, referral pathways and available resources. If you were unable to attend, or would like to revisit the information, a recording of the webinar is available on the NIO YouTube channel on this link.
Follow the National Immunisation Office on YouTube @Nationalimmunisationoffice to access webinar recordings and programme updates.
Click here to view the Campaign Partner Pack for the Selective BCG Vaccine Programme.
The NIAC chapter supporting the programme can be found here: Chapter 22 – Tuberculosis | HIQA 
