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Tick-borne encephalitis vaccination

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

Authoring team

tick-borne encephalitis vaccination

One licensed vaccine (Tico-Vac) is available currently

  • produced from virus grown in chick fibroblasts and then inactivated by formaldehyde; it is supplied as a suspension of 0.5ml for injection in a pre-filled syringe
  • vaccine contains the Neudorfl virus strain, has been shown to be effective against the European subtype, and is probably effective against the more aggressive Far Eastern subtype of TBE
  • vaccine contains aluminium hydroxide and trace quantities of neomycin and gentamicin
  • inactivated, does not contain live organisms and cannot cause the disease against which it protects

Indications:

  • TBE vaccine is used for the protection of individuals at high risk of exposure to the virus through travel or employment
  • risk areas are Eastern Europe, former USSR and forested regions of Austria, Germany, the Balkans and Scandanavia
  • for longterm residents, foresters, scouts and ramblers

Precautions

  • there are no direct evidence associated with vaccinating pregnant women or those who are breast-feeding, with inactivated virus or bacterial vaccines or toxoids

Contraindications:

  • the vaccine should not be given to those who have had:
  • a confirmed anaphylactic reaction to a previous dose of TBE vaccine
  • a confirmed anaphylactic reaction to one of the vaccine components
  • a confirmed anaphylactic reaction to egg ingestion

Adverse Reactions:

  • reported reactions to TBE vaccines are rare
  • local reactions such as swelling, pain and redness at the injection site may occur
  • pyrexia, particularly after the first dose can occur in children and adults, usually occurring within 12 hours of immunisation and settling within 24–48 hours
  • febrile convulsions have rarely occurred, and antipyretic treatment and cooling should be initiated in good time

Check uptodate details in the The Green Book before prescribing/administering a TBE vaccination.

Check the Summary of Product Characteristics (SPC) before prescribing/administering a vaccine.

Reference:

  • (1) Immunisation Against Infectious Disease - "The Green Book".Chapter 31 Tick-borne (April 2019)

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