TNF and infection: BCG vaccination remained protective despite 17XNL infection; parasitaemia peaked ~20%–28% but resolved by Day 21. 17XNL infection after BCG did not impair ex vivo mycobacterial control, but infection during BCG vaccination reduced TNF‐α and total cytokine responses, mirroring impaired bacterial control. Cleared malaria before vaccination restored normal responses. No major effects on memory (Tcm/Teff) subsets