Need a Tick-borne Encephalitis Vaccination?

 

Tick-borne Encephalitis is one of the few vaccinations recommended for travel in northern Europe, and it’s well worth avoiding. Here’s what you need to know about the disease, the symptoms and what you can do to protect yourself.

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Tick-borne Encephalitis Vaccination at a Glance

Schedule: Course of Three
Price: £70 per dose (Adult) / £65 per dose (Junior)
Risk Areas: Europe (Eastern, Northern and Central). Eastern Russia and East Asia.

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Where is Tick-borne Encephalitis Common?

 

The disease is most common in eastern, northern and central Europe. There are also sub-types of the disease in eastern Russia and East Asia, including China and Japan. Ticks are mainly found in forested areas, grasslands, beside rivers, lakes and wetlands. People involved in outdoor activities like camping, trekking, hiking, fishing and mountain biking in high risk areas should consider immunisation.

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What is tick-borne encephalitis and what causes it?

 

Tick-borne Encephalitis is a serious viral infection passed to people through tick bites. Most people usually make a full recovery within a week. In more serious cases the infection can spread to the protective tissues around the spinal cord and brain, which can go on to affect the mental and nervous state of the infected person, requiring hospitalisation.

Tick-borne Encephalitis is fatal in 1% of people. 10% of those affected will go on to develop long-term conditions like fatigue, emotional changes, personality changes, mood swings, epilepsy, memory loss and speech problems.

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Tick-borne encephalitis Symptoms

 

The initial symptoms usually develop between 2 – 28 days of being bitten, and last for 1 – 8 days. Common tick-borne encephalitis symptoms include:

• High temperature

• Headache

• Fatigue

• Muscle pain

• Nausea 

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How to minimise the risk of catching tick-borne encephalitis?

 

Immunisation is your first line of defence. Otherwise, if you’re out in the countryside, cover your bare arms and legs to prevent ticks getting onto your skin. When they bite they release a chemical that numbs the site of the bite, so you might see it before you feel it.

Get medical advice as soon as possible if you’ve been bitten by a tick in an at-risk area and haven’t been vaccinated, or if you get a rash or fever after being bitten by something you didn’t see or feel. Avoid unpasteurised dairy products, check your body regularly for ticks and, if you find any, make sure you know in advance how to remove them safely and quickly.

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About the vaccine and it's side effects?

 

Vaccination involves three doses over 5 -12 months but you can also take an accelerated dose over two weeks, designed to provide short term protection that’s usually good enough for 90% of people.

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Always arrange your shots as early in advance as possible before you travel. Many of our travellers take last minute trips, but not to worry. We can still vaccinate you before you go. The vaccination can be given to anyone over the age of one, and for children aged 1 – 16 we have a special child’s version of the vaccine called Ticovac Junior.

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• Course – 3 doses: 2 doses 1 – 3 months apart, 3rd dose 5 -12 months later. For accelerated protection, the second dose can be given as little as 14 days after first

• Booster – Get your first booster within within three years, then every 3 – 5 years

• Side effects – local pain, redness, inflammation, flu like symptoms

• Special instructions – contains gentamicin and neomycin

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Consultations

Want to book a tick-borne encephalitis vaccination? Perhaps you’d prefer to discuss it first? It’s quick and easy to book an appointment either on the phone or online. Call 0203 488 7351 to speak with an experienced vaccination specialist.

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