Yes. There is a vaccine against tuberculosis, but it’s not as straightforward as, say, the measles or COVID vaccines, and new TB vaccines are a big focus of current research.

Quick Scoop

  • There is an existing TB vaccine: BCG (Bacillus Calmette–Guérin).
  • BCG mainly protects babies and young children from the most severe forms of TB (like TB meningitis), but it works less well for adult lung TB, which is the most common form.
  • Because of this, rich countries with low TB rates often don’t give BCG routinely, while many higher‑burden countries still use it in newborns.
  • Several new TB vaccines are now in late‑stage trials and could become the first major update in over 100 years.

So… what is the current TB vaccine?

The classic: BCG

BCG is a live, weakened form of a relative of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the bacteria that causes TB.

It has been used since the early 1900s and is still part of childhood immunization programs in many countries with higher TB rates.

Key points about BCG:

  • Best at preventing:
    • TB meningitis in children
    • Severe, disseminated (spread throughout the body) TB in young kids
  • Much less reliable at preventing:
    • Adult pulmonary (lung) TB
    • TB infection in general

That’s why you’ll see contrasting experiences on forums: people from high‑TB countries often got a BCG scar as a baby, while people in the U.S. or Western Europe often never had it and only get TB tests instead.

Why isn’t everyone just vaccinated?

Different strategies by country

Because TB rates differ wildly across the world, BCG policies do too:

  • In many high‑burden countries (parts of Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe, Latin America), BCG at birth is standard.
  • In low‑burden countries (like the U.S.), routine BCG is not usually recommended; instead, they focus on:
    • Testing people at higher risk (health‑care workers, close contacts of TB cases, people from high‑incidence regions)
    • Treating latent TB infection before it becomes active disease.

Public‑health agencies balance the modest and variable effectiveness of BCG in adults against local TB rates, cost, and program complexity.

What’s new: next‑generation TB vaccines

This is where the “latest news” and “trending topic” part really kicks in: TB vaccines are having a kind of scientific “moment” after decades of slow progress.

Big candidates in the pipeline

Recent updates highlight several vaccines in phase 3 trials (the last big step before potential approval):

  • M72/AS01E
    • A protein + adjuvant “subunit” vaccine.
    • In a phase 2b study, it cut the risk of active pulmonary TB by roughly 50% in adults with latent infection over three years.
* Now in a large phase 3 trial with up to 20,000 participants across several African and Asian countries.
  • MTBVAC
    • A live attenuated vaccine derived from M. tuberculosis itself, engineered to remove key virulence genes while keeping important antigens.
* Entered large safety and efficacy trials around 2024, including people with latent TB infection in African countries.
  • VPM1002 and other “enhanced BCG‑like” vaccines
    • Genetically modified versions of BCG designed to give stronger immune responses.
  • Other candidates (like H56:IC31, ID93+GLA‑SE, DAR‑901, Vaccae) are being studied either as preventive vaccines or as adjuncts to TB treatment to reduce recurrences.

A 2025 WHO report noted at least 16 TB vaccine candidates in clinical development, with 6 already in phase 3 and calls for “bold steps” to ensure future vaccines are equitably accessible.

Why this is such a big deal right now

Tuberculosis remains one of the world’s deadliest infectious diseases, causing millions of cases and over a million deaths every year.

The COVID‑19 pandemic also disrupted TB services, making the need for better tools even more urgent.

Recent trends and discussion points:

  • High global burden : Over 10 million new TB cases annually, including drug‑resistant strains that are harder to treat.
  • Funding push : Major donors like the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Wellcome have pledged hundreds of millions of dollars to support late‑stage TB vaccine trials.
  • Equity concerns : WHO and global health groups are emphasizing that if new TB vaccines are licensed, they must reach high‑burden countries quickly, not years later.

On public forums, you’ll often see debates like:

“If we’ve had BCG for 100 years, why is TB still such a problem?”

The short answer is: BCG protects kids pretty well but doesn’t stop adult lung TB enough to break transmission on its own, especially in crowded, under‑resourced settings.

That’s why a more effective adult TB vaccine is seen as a potential game‑changer.

If you’re personally wondering “Do I need a TB vaccine?”

General themes from medical guidance and parenting/health forums:

  • In low‑TB countries:
    • Most healthy adults and kids with no special risk factors do not routinely get BCG.
* Doctors focus on screening and treating latent TB in higher‑risk groups.
  • In high‑TB or specific‑risk situations:
    • Newborns may get BCG as part of routine care.
    • Certain high‑risk groups (for example, some health‑care workers, people living or working in high‑exposure environments, or those moving to high‑burden countries) may be offered BCG depending on national guidelines.

Because policies and TB risk vary a lot by country and individual situation, the practical next step is:

  • Talk to your doctor or local public health service if:
    • You live in or are moving to a region with higher TB rates.
    • You’ve had close contact with someone with TB.
    • You’re immunocompromised, pregnant, or have other health conditions that might change the risk–benefit balance.

TL;DR

  • Yes, there is a tuberculosis vaccine: BCG.
  • BCG mainly protects young children from the most severe forms of TB and is widely used in countries with higher TB rates.
  • It provides limited and variable protection against adult lung TB, so lower‑burden countries often don’t use it routinely.
  • Multiple new and more powerful TB vaccines (like M72/AS01E and MTBVAC) are currently in late‑stage trials and could become available in the coming years if they prove safe and effective.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.