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TBE Vaccination: Protection Against Tick-Borne Encephalitis

The TBE vaccination protects against tick-borne encephalitis, a viral disease affecting the nervous system. It is strongly recommended for people in risk areas.

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Things worth knowing about "TBE Vaccination"

The TBE vaccination protects against tick-borne encephalitis, a viral disease affecting the nervous system. It is strongly recommended for people in risk areas.

What Is the TBE Vaccination?

The TBE vaccination is a preventive immunization against tick-borne encephalitis (TBE), a viral disease transmitted by tick bites that can affect the central nervous system. The causative agent is the TBE virus, a member of the Flavivirus family, primarily transmitted through the bite of the castor bean tick (Ixodes ricinus). The vaccination is considered one of the most effective measures to prevent TBE, especially for people living in or traveling to TBE risk areas across Europe and Asia.

How Does the TBE Vaccine Work?

The TBE vaccine is an inactivated (killed) vaccine containing inactivated TBE virus particles. After injection, the immune system recognizes these harmless viral components and produces specific antibodies. If a vaccinated person is subsequently bitten by an infected tick, the immune system can respond rapidly and prevent the virus from causing serious illness.

Vaccination Schedule and Dosage

A complete primary immunization series requires three doses:

Dose 1: At any chosen starting date
Dose 2: 1 to 3 months after the first dose
Dose 3: 5 to 12 months after the second dose

A rapid immunization schedule is also available for those requiring short-term protection, in which the second dose is administered as early as 14 days after the first. After the primary series, protection typically lasts 3 years, followed by booster doses every 3 to 5 years depending on age and the specific vaccine used.

Available Vaccines

Two TBE vaccines are predominantly available in Europe:

FSME-IMMUN (Pfizer/Baxter): Adult and pediatric formulations available from 1 year of age
Encepur (Bavarian Nordic): Adult and pediatric formulations available from 1 year of age

Both vaccines have demonstrated high efficacy, providing protection in more than 95% of vaccinated individuals after completion of the primary series.

Who Should Get Vaccinated?

The TBE vaccination is recommended for:

People living in or traveling to TBE-endemic regions in Europe and Asia
Individuals who spend significant time outdoors (e.g., hikers, forest workers, farmers)
Children from 1 year of age in risk areas
Travelers to affected regions in Eastern Europe, the Baltic states, Russia, and parts of Asia

Side Effects

The TBE vaccine is generally well tolerated. Common side effects include:

Local reactions: Redness, swelling, or pain at the injection site
General symptoms: Fatigue, headache, mild fever, muscle aches
Rare reactions: Allergic reactions (very rare)

These symptoms typically resolve within a few days and reflect a normal immune response to the vaccine.

Contraindications

The TBE vaccine should not be administered, or should only be given after medical consultation, in the following cases:

Known severe allergy to vaccine components (e.g., egg protein)
Acute febrile illness (vaccination should be postponed)
Severe congenital or acquired immunodeficiency (requires medical evaluation)

TBE Vaccination for Travelers

TBE-endemic regions extend beyond Central Europe and include large parts of Eastern Europe, the Baltic states, Russia, the Mongolian steppe, and parts of Asia. Travelers to these destinations should begin the vaccination series well in advance, as full protection from the primary series requires several months to achieve.

References

World Health Organization (WHO): Vaccines and vaccination against tick-borne encephalitis. Weekly Epidemiological Record, No. 24, 2011; 86:241-256.
Robert Koch-Institut (RKI): STIKO recommendations for TBE vaccination. www.rki.de (2024).
Dobler G., Erber W., Bröker M., Schmitt H.J. (eds.): The TBE Book. 4th edition. Global Health Press, Singapore, 2022.

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